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2005/10/05, 10:07 AM
Every day there's talk around the office about Layoffs coming soon. So I've been trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up big and strong. Well like a lot of kids (even though I'm 31) I've decided that a Fireman would be a great career. So I've been doing some checking around and a friend up here that is a Volunteer Fireman sent me a link to a site that explains the CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) to be a Firefighter. Here's a link that will describe the test. http://www.elpasotexas.gov/fire/cpat.asp
So I've been looking over this and the events individually aren't that difficult and I believe I could do them fairly easily. However there's a catch. You have 10 minutes and 20 seconds to complete them...at 10 minutes and 21 seconds you fail. If you fail you have to wait 12 months to do it again.
If you read over the exam carefully you'll notice there's multiple twist in it that aren't obvious till you really start to break it down. What I'm referring to is the timing of the overall test and the individual time per events.
1)There is an 85 foot walk between events and if you run you fail. The walk should take 20 seconds. So there's 2 minutes and 20 seconds off the clock (7 walks between events is 140 seconds) you now have 8 minutes to complete 8 events.
2)The first event alone is a timed test of 3 minutes on the Stair Master at 60 steps per minute with 62.5 lbs on your shoulder...if you fall or grab hold of something you start over but that time is gone. Otherwise if you complete the event on time you have 5 minutes to complete 7 events.
Can anyone make any recommendations for what type of training I can do to accomplish this test. Again I don't believe the individual parts would be to difficult, however having the speed and endurance to get them done in the time alloted is really the true test.
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2005/10/07, 01:03 PM
Oh come one...I know we got a few firefighters out there somewhere. At least someone that's taken another form of Physical ability test. Any recommendations on what I can do to prepare for this test?
I've started out with 20 minutes on the stairmaster at approx. 60 stairs a minute. In a few weeks I'm going to get a heavy duty backpack and drop 70 lbs in it. When I can get to 5 minutes with that and not be anywhere near out of breath or fatigued then I think I'll have half of the test done, as that's what they start you on.
After I accomplish that then I'm going to add in a fast run on the treadmill at about 6 MPH for 15 minutes with the same weight on my back, just make that my cardio sessions each week. Then I need to start cutting my breaks between reps down, so I can build muscle endurance.
Any other suggestions?
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2005/10/07, 03:02 PM
what are the other things you need to do??
I would try to do the course if possible - can you do 60 steps in a minute now?? & can you do it with more wieght than what is call for?? if you pratice heavier then the real test would be easier on you
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Reddy
All people smile in the same language
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2005/10/10, 09:37 AM
Yes I can do the 60 steps in a minute now. I've incorporated the stair master into my cardio and been doing it for 20 minutes between 40-65 steps per minute and will be bumping up the level this week. However I haven't tried it with extra weight on my back. That will be coming next week.
I've been trying to find a practice facility for the test, but haven't found one in my area yet. Still checking around and I'll probably speak with the fire department and see what they can tell me.
The other things are more or less strength/agility events, but they're back to back so I need to build more endurance to push through all of them.
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