This challenging career begins with a thorough screening process that involves a written test, a physical fitness test, a background check, a medical and mental health examination, and a final interview.
Then there's academy training, which includes learning and practicing firefighting and preventative skills, as well as survival and emergency medical treatments.
Risking danger and saving people's lives makes firefighters superheroes to the public.
However, before you agree to all of the responsibilities that this position entails, make absolutely sure that you have what it takes to be successful.
We've come up with a list of ten vital skills for firefighters to help you get started.
10 Essential Skills Needed To Become A Firefighter
Teamwork
Most professional paths require the ability to function in a group.
Employees that trust one another, share responsibilities, and respect one another's skills can complete projects faster, more efficiently, and successfully than a group of individuals attempting to do it their own way.
This is especially true among a team of firefighters, where a breakdown in the group mentality might jeopardize everyone's safety.
Going through a firefighting academy allows you to put your teamwork abilities to the test with many other prospective firefighters.
Initiative and leadership skills are valuable qualities to have as a firefighter, but keep in mind that you will always require support to deal with situations.
Adaptability
Dealing with the unexpected is a big part of the job. You could be at the firehouse performing routine equipment maintenance one minute and then be dispatched to an explosive fire the next.
Weather, the unexpected collapse of a structure, or unpredictable acts by victims, onlookers, or offenders could all undermine an emergency response strategy.
Whether on or off the ground, firefighters must maintain calm, ask pertinent questions about the situation, and be ready to quickly shift from one course of action to another.
Problem Solving
This ability pairs well with adaptability. The first stage is to be willing to modify your outlook and deal with whatever issues arise using your initiative.
The ability to identify, analyze, and overcome challenges comes next.
Firefighters must learn to acquire all necessary details, assess resource availability, apply logic to locate a feasible solution, and assess the costs and benefits of various options.
You may need to replace faulty equipment, determine how to account for too much weight on an unsteady stairway, or discover a route around a blocked exit.
It will be easier for you to solve problems in difficult conditions if you have greater knowledge, competence, and experience with all parts of firefighting.
Calm Under Pressure
Being a firefighter is more than just dashing fearlessly toward a burning structure or vehicle.
Once you arrive, you must complete your allocated responsibilities as exactly and effectively as possible.
Responsibilities to your colleagues, hazardous situations such as smoke and shaky flooring, and a tight time frame can all add up to a lot of stress.
How well you perform under pressure is likely to be one of the questions asked in your assessment for being admitted to a firefighting career.
You'll want to reassure them that you thrive in high-pressure situations.
You'll also have to describe how you keep your nerves in check and maintain laser focus in stressful situations.
Communication
Remember that firefighters spend lots of time with both their coworkers and the general public.
You'll want to sharpen up your communication skills in between physical and tactical training.
You must be able to effectively listen and communicate crucial information as fast and clearly as feasible.
You may customize your style of communication to different personalities and situations with practice and expertise.
Visualization Techniques
This is perhaps one of the abilities you didn't realize are required to be a firefighter, but it's just as crucial as the others.
Visualization is a more structured approach of using your mind that can help you escape a fire or other dangerous circumstances.
In the midst of distracting stimuli, firefighters must be able to recognize individuals, objects, and sounds.
They must analyze patterns in their environment fast. Firefighters should also be able to locate themselves within a site in relation to their coworkers, any hazards, and exits.
Mechanical Aptitude
Mechanical abilities are an important part of a firefighter's skill set. All components of firefighting need the use of tools, specialized equipment, trucks, and machinery.
Knowing how to operate, maintain, and fix this machinery is critical.
Fires as well as other situations can occur in a variety of structures and locations. Coursework in car mechanics, welding, and electronics is beneficial to an aspiring firefighter.
Knowing how different equipment works and the safety regulations that go with them can help a lot in situations like factory fires, building sites, and car accidents.
Attention To Detail
With many variables at play during emergencies, a firefighter must focus on what they can control.
Those that inspect their equipment and safety kit on a daily basis, stay in shape, practice drills with their colleagues, and update their pre-plans will be better equipped whenever the call comes.
They'll also be less vulnerable to dangerous setbacks caused by malfunctioning equipment or a lack of mental or physical preparation.
This is also one of the most critical abilities for a firefighter because paying attention to the smallest details might provide crucial information about your mission.
Detecting an uncommon symptom in a victim can result in a life-saving treatment change.
Backdraft and other threats in a fire can be detected by noticing air pressure changes or the colors of smoke.
Leadership
To be effective as a firefighter, you'll need to grasp leadership abilities as you advance to supervisory positions.
It takes confidence, decisiveness, consistency, and trust-building to lead a group of colleagues.
You'll need all of your skills to win that trust, because the actions you take and the instructions you give during an emergency could mean the difference between life and death for your team.
Knowing you might not always have the solutions and appreciating your colleagues enough to seek their feedback when necessary is part of being a successful leader.
First Aid Knowledge
You may be expected to perform both firefighting and medic duties, depending on local rules.
Many counties in the United States, for example, require firefighters to be certified as EMTs or paramedics.
Regardless of their work description, firefighters are frequently summoned to aid paramedics and authorities in responding to non-fire crises.
Firefighters have the gear, equipment, and training to break down doors, penetrate structures that are structurally hazardous, and rescue people stuck in wrecked automobiles.
Because you'll typically be the first to arrive at the scene of an accident, knowing how to perform CPR and patient stabilization is crucial.
Conclusion
While becoming a firefighter is an extremely rewarding career choice, there are many challenges that you will undoubtedly face in the role.
You need to make sure that you build on the essential skills mentioned above so that you can succeed in your important role as a firefighter.
