Are physical fitness tests not common in the US? In Canada, well Ontario at least, most school require you to pass a test at the end of each semester to continue in the program. When looking for a job a lift test is a major component of the hiring process. The dummy ranges from 225-300lbs and the test usually incorporates stair chair, # board, loading, and for and aft lifts. From what I am reading it seems like the American system doesn't emphasize physical fitness.
Physical testing in America
- Thread starter skivail
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akflightmedic
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Lift tests are common when you apply for a job. During school, not so much.
And you are correct, physical fitness it not an American trademark.
And you are correct, physical fitness it not an American trademark.
We had to ..
- do CPR on the dummy for a couple minutes,
- run round with the green backpack with all our gear in it (probably weighs about 30 kilos), Lifepak 10 and a tank of oxygen for a bit,
- lift a 20kg box of weights from the floor to counter, about maybe 4ft,
- do 30 press ups in a minute,
- take a loaded stretcher in and out of the ambulance,
- zoom somebody around in the stair chair and up an down three or four steps
- do CPR on the dummy for a couple minutes,
- run round with the green backpack with all our gear in it (probably weighs about 30 kilos), Lifepak 10 and a tank of oxygen for a bit,
- lift a 20kg box of weights from the floor to counter, about maybe 4ft,
- do 30 press ups in a minute,
- take a loaded stretcher in and out of the ambulance,
- zoom somebody around in the stair chair and up an down three or four steps
Melclin
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Brown, that makes sense.
To the OP, our fitness test on the other hand, evaluates your ability to adequately perform the physical component of the job about as well as stuffing half a kilogram of smarties up your arse, bending over, and measuring the distance you shoot them across the room.
Firstly we have the medical, which makes sense. Doctor chats to you about any health problems, then you go to a couple of other specialists for vision and hearing tests, BMI..etc. nothing wrong with that.
The fitness test though involves a push up test, a situp test, and flexibility test (sit and reach) and a eight minute bike ride where they measure your heart rate.
-The push up test haves you do five of each of five kinds of push ups graded 1-5 in difficulty. Problem is though that push up type 1-3 are easy for any able bodied person, while 4-5 are impossible unless you are a fitness freak.
-All five forms of situps are ridiculously easy...and really? How often does treating a pt involve core muscle strength?
-What the hell does the flexibility of my calf and hamistrings have to do with my ability to perform the role of a paramedic?
-My biggest bug bear is the bike ride because it is not something you can simply try harder on - its not like you need to run 5km and you're in. It doesn't take into account a person ability to try harder. If you need to run up a flight of stairs to get to a pt, what does it matter if your HR averages above a certain number? If you can do it comfortably, you can do it. But you fail the bike ride if your average HR is unsatisfactory.
DISCLAIMER: I've never failed any of these tests, so its not that I'm bitter. Like I said, they're all quite easy...to easy really. But they measure the stupidist things. Plenty of people who pass the fitness tests have gone onto have trouble carrying the bags, doing chest compressions, pushing stretchers, assisting patients up/down stairs.
/rant
To the OP, our fitness test on the other hand, evaluates your ability to adequately perform the physical component of the job about as well as stuffing half a kilogram of smarties up your arse, bending over, and measuring the distance you shoot them across the room.
Firstly we have the medical, which makes sense. Doctor chats to you about any health problems, then you go to a couple of other specialists for vision and hearing tests, BMI..etc. nothing wrong with that.
The fitness test though involves a push up test, a situp test, and flexibility test (sit and reach) and a eight minute bike ride where they measure your heart rate.
-The push up test haves you do five of each of five kinds of push ups graded 1-5 in difficulty. Problem is though that push up type 1-3 are easy for any able bodied person, while 4-5 are impossible unless you are a fitness freak.
-All five forms of situps are ridiculously easy...and really? How often does treating a pt involve core muscle strength?
-What the hell does the flexibility of my calf and hamistrings have to do with my ability to perform the role of a paramedic?
-My biggest bug bear is the bike ride because it is not something you can simply try harder on - its not like you need to run 5km and you're in. It doesn't take into account a person ability to try harder. If you need to run up a flight of stairs to get to a pt, what does it matter if your HR averages above a certain number? If you can do it comfortably, you can do it. But you fail the bike ride if your average HR is unsatisfactory.
DISCLAIMER: I've never failed any of these tests, so its not that I'm bitter. Like I said, they're all quite easy...to easy really. But they measure the stupidist things. Plenty of people who pass the fitness tests have gone onto have trouble carrying the bags, doing chest compressions, pushing stretchers, assisting patients up/down stairs.
/rant
Buzz
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Flexibility and core strength reduce the risks of you sustaining injuries while having to actually move your patients... Actually, I'm not entirely sure about the core strength thing, but I know that strengthening the muscles in my abdomen and back cannot be a bad thing to do...
Heck, I do that every day... Well, except the push-ups.
And I'm ridiculously out of shape.