ANNEX A: Firefighter pre-entry fitness evaluation (FPFE) information, instruction and description

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

Once you are registered as an applicant for the Firefighter Pre-Entry Fitness Evaluation (FPFE), you will be contacted and provided with the FPFE booklet which contains the recommended training program, you will also be provided with the following information:

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

1. For civilians only: Your physician must complete the FPFE Medical Clearance Form. Without this form fully completed by a physician you will not be allowed to perform the FPFE.  It provides medical clearance for you to undertake the specific components of the evaluation.
2. For military members: Ensure that you have a valid Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) as this assessment is used instead of the Medical Clearance Form as they have the same purpose.

PRE-SCREENING

3. Prior to the beginning of the FPFE you will be asked to complete the Health Appraisal Questionnaire which consists of nine questions in order to assess your general health. Once you have completed the Health Appraisal Questionnaire, the evaluator will measure your blood pressure (BP) and your heart rate (HR). If you are a military member with a valid PHA you will not require your BP or HR to be taken.

INFORMED CONSENT:

4. Right before the start of your evaluation, you will be asked to read and sign the Informed Consent form.

DRESS REQUIREMENT

5. Bring the following items of clothing with you:
   1. Shorts
   2. Two T-shirts
   3. Running shoes
   4. Extra socks (thick and thin)
   5. Warm-up clothing
   6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including boots (these can be issued prior to the evaluation)

PRE-EVALUATION INSTRUCTIONS

6. To ensure accurate results in your FPFE, please follow these instructions:
7. You should not:
   1. Exercise six hours (6 hrs) prior to the evaluation.
   2. Consume alcohol for at least six hours (6 hrs) prior to the evaluation.
   3. Eat, smoke, chew tobacco or take stimulants (tea, coffee, energy drinks, pharmaceuticals, etc.) for at least two hours (2 hrs) prior to the evaluation.

Note: Non-compliance with the above instructions does not necessarily mean FPFE postponement, however, this may have a negative effect on your results.

IDENTIFICATION AND SNACKS

8. On the day of the evaluation, ensure that you bring a Government issued picture identification card such as a driver’s license or passport. 
9.  As the evaluation is conducted over a long period (3+ hours), so ensure that you bring easy-to-eat snacks and a water bottle. 

POST EVALUATION

10. For security measures, you will be asked to remain in the evaluation area until your post-exercise HR has dropped below 100 BPM and your BP less than or equal to 144/94 mmHg.

EVALUATION DESCRIPTION

11. This evaluation is designed to assess the physical work capacities of healthy, physically active individuals. Each task requires a maximal effort. All of the tasks are completed while wearing firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) that weighs approximately 50 lb (22 kg). This ensemble includes: helmet, flash-hood, gloves, pants, boots, jacket and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). You are not required to breathe from the SCBA, but must carry it. For safety during the treadmill component, running shoes are substituted for firefighting boots. The FPFE is administered by qualified fitness evaluators and is not medically supervised. The FPFE procedures are described briefly below:

AEROBIC ENDURANCE

12. Maximal work capacity will be measured during a progressive, incremental exercise evaluation to exhaustion on a treadmill. Your heart rate is monitored continuously with a heart rate monitor. After a standardized 5-minute warm-up, you will walk at a speed of 3.5 mph and 10% grade for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, the speed of the treadmill will remain the same however the grade increases 1% every minute to a maximum of 15%. If you are able to continue, the grade will remain at 15% and the speed will increase 0.5 mph each minute until you can no longer continue. There is a mandatory 5-min cool-down (slow walk on a flat treadmill).  In order to pass the treadmill evaluation, you MUST complete the 5-min warm-up, the 8-min constant work rate phase and the 5-minute cool-down (for a total of at least 18 minutes). Depending on fitness level and motivation, this evaluation normally requires you to walk on the treadmill for 13 to 20 minutes. Regardless of your fitness level, the evaluation normally involves a maximal effort and is terminated when you are too fatigued to continue exercise. Combined with the exercise stress, the weight and heat retention properties of the PPE result in a significant level of fatigue. After completing the treadmill component, you will rest for 60 minutes before moving on to the job-related tasks component.

JOB-RELATED TASKS COMPONENT

13. Prior to completing the job-related tasks component, you will complete a “familiarization/practice” session where you are required to practice each of the tasks. This takes approximately 30 minutes and serves to familiarize yourself with the evaluation procedures and provides a suitable warm-up for the demanding evaluation that follows. During the evaluation, each task is followed by a rest period of three minutes for recovery and hydration. You are not permitted to leave the evaluation area or remove the PPE during the rest periods.

Equipment Carry/Vehicle Extrication

14. You will carry a small vehicle extrication tool (“Jaws of Life”) of 44 lb (20 kg) and a weighted triceps bar of 80 lb (36.4 kg) and place them in designated places on the floor 15.24 m (50 ft.) away. Next, you will pick up the smaller 44 lb (20 kg) tool, carry it 7.62 m (25ft.) and set it down in front of a vehicle door mock-up.  In addition, you will lift and hold the 44 lb (20 kg) tool in a level position at right angles to the door mock-up with the “jaws” in firm contact with each of three flat metal discs that are similarly oriented to the three “pins” that must be broken to remove a car door. The tool must be held in the correct position for 30 sec on each disc.  The tool is set down between each hold, and you must stand erect before lifting the tool and moving on to the next point of contact.  After this sequence is completed, you will return both tools to the starting point. The total walking distance is 106.68 m (350 ft.). This task is designed to evaluate the strength required to lift, carry and use heavy tools in rescue situations.

Charged Hose Advance

Weighted Sled Pull

16. Keeping your feet securely in place, you will pull a sled weighing approximately 123 lb (56 kg) a distance of 15.24 m (50 ft.) over a smooth concrete floor using 16 mm (5/8 in.) rope. You will then walk 15.24 m (50 ft.). You will repeat this sequence (pull & walk) a second time and complete a third and final pull. This task assesses upper body strength, power, and endurance for pulling and hoisting.

Forcible Entry Simulation

17. Using a 10 lb (4.54 kg) sledgehammer, you will strike a mechanically braked target as rapidly as possible until the end-of-task buzzer sounds (a distance of approximately 10 cm). This task assesses muscle strength, power and endurance, particularly in the upper body.

Victim Rescue

18.  You will drag a mannequin weighing 176 lb (80 kg) a total distance of 30.48 m (100 ft.). The task starts with the mannequin lying “face-up” on the floor and with you standing behind the mannequin’s head. You will lift the mannequin, walk backwards for 15.24 m (50 ft.), and return to the start line as quickly as possible while navigating around the pylons. No part of your body or the mannequin may touch the pylons during the task. This task assesses strength, power, and agility for pulling and dragging.

Ladder Climb

19. You will climb a 7.32 m (24 ft.) ladder to the 10^th rung and return to the floor as quickly as possible. You will repeat this task five times. You must maintain three points of contact on the ladder at all times, and must climb the ladder rung by rung, without missing any of them. This task assesses muscle strength, endurance, and anaerobic capacity for climbing under load.