Physical fitness
Firefighters need to be physically fit for a good number of reasons. With lives of people on the line, you cannot afford not to be in the best of shape. So start living a healthy lifestyle, take physical fitness tests and body building trainings to put your body at the best of shape. You can train on your own or you can enroll in a fitness class. Focus around cardiovascular and strength exercises - which are most needed during firefighting.
Mental fitness
Firefighting is as much of a mental challenge as a physical one. Not everyone is mentally fit and ready to put themselves into life-threatening situations and offer emergency services, day in and day out. Many firefighters say you need to have the passion and the love for the job to be able to do well at it. So even before you decide to go into training, weigh out your priorities and be mentally prepared for all the challenges that go with the job.
Take firefighting courses
There are actually some colleges that offer fire fighting courses and degrees. Courses like these can prepare you and introduce you to the possible challenges that you are going to face in real firefighting situations. Aside from that, you can get helpful instructions on how to give effective and life-saving emergency services.
Take EMT courses
Taking EMT or Emergency Medical Technician courses is an added plus for those giving out emergency services. The medical skills that you know or do not know can mean life and death for the people concerned. An EMT license is also an added advantage that you can use while job hunting.
Get a CPR license
CPR or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure that all firefighters should know by heart. This is one of the most basic of all emergency services. CPR skills can be learned by taking classes, usually offered by the Red Cross organization. So check out your local Red Cross chapter and inquire about any CPR classes offered in your area.
Study for the written exam
This is a very crucial process for aspiring firefighters. All legal firefighters must be able to pass a written exam to be able to practice their profession. So if you want to pass, always come prepared and leave nothing to chance. There are a number of review books that you can use to prepare for the test as well.
So there you have it, simple and effective ways on how you can prepare yourself for emergency services and a firefighting career. Remember, with lives on the line, you cannot afford to be anything but the best in what you do.
