Recruitment Fitness Asses Guidance
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Information for Candidates Attending Pre-Placement Medical and Fitness Assessment All applicants made an offer via UCAS, whether conditional or unconditional for qualification purposes, must also undertake a fitness test as part of the post-selection criteria. This is a vigorous test that applicants must pass, along with a medical assessment and Enhanced CRB Disclosure. In order that you give yourself every opportunity to pass, we have outlined the tests that you are required to perform at the end of this document. The pass marks for each test are of a high standard due to the requirements of the duties involved. Advice to Prospective Candidates The fitness test is designed to assess your ability to carry out peak demands of ambulance work. This is necessary to ensure that you have sufficient physical ability to cope with extreme work demands as and when these occur and to minimise the health / injury known to exist within low fitness groups when regularly engaged in such hard physical work. The fitness test is described at the end of this sheet. If you feel that your current fitness level may impede your ability to complete such a test, follow the advice given below. In order to assist your preparation, it is recommended that you start and follow a regular programme of fitness training, which should commence at the earliest opportunity. Any exercise that is continuous, rhythmical and engages the large muscle groups of the body would be suitable. Typical activities are Walking, Jogging, Cycling, Rowing, Swimming, Aerobic / Dance / Step. Exercise should be brisk and vigorous, leaving you sweating and moderately breathless. It should NOT cause exhaustion or leave you totally breathless, or with aching muscles. Intensity levels should be between 70% - 90% of your age predicted maximum heart rate, calculated by subtracting your age from 220 and multiplying by 0.7 or 0.9. Start the programme at the lower intensity (70%) and gradually progress over a period of weeks to the higher level as your fitness level increases. A simple method of determining your fitness level can be obtained by measuring your resting heart rate. This is best taken immediately upon waking after a good nights sleep. Allow five minutes relaxation if waking to an alarm clock. The average resting heart rate for men and women is between 60 and 80 beats per minute. Poorly trained, sedentary individuals may have heart rates that exceed 100 beats per minute. Resting heart rate levels can decrease as a result of undertaking some form of physical activity, especially for people who do little or no exercise. You should aim to complete 3-5 sessions per week at this intensity, beginning with 15-30 minutes and progressing to longer sessions as your fitness level increases. You will find as you progress you can extend the duration of your exercise periods. You may wish to mix exercise types for variety and include some form of weight training for strength improvement. Always include a gradual warm up before vigorous exercise and a cool down after completion. These include gentle mobilisation of the muscles and joints and some stretches for flexibility. If you have not been following a regular systematic training programme similar to that outlined above, you are unlikely to be able to complete the test satisfactorily. NOTE: It is suggested you consult your GP before starting any exercise programme, especially if: You have not engaged in physical activity for some time. You are not used to exercise. You suspect any problems (e.g. heart, joint or muscle) that may be made worse by exercise. Do not exercise if you have or are recovering from colds, flu, fever, etc. If you require further specific advice about types of exercise, intensities or duration, seek the assistance of a reputable, qualified fitness trainer or health club, explaining your requirements.
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Transcript of Recruitment Fitness Asses Guidance
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Information for Candidates Attending Pre-Placement Medical and Fitness Assessment
All applicants made an offer via UCAS, whether conditional or unconditional for qualification purposes, must also undertake a fitness test as part of the post-selection criteria. This is a vigorous test that applicants must pass, along with a medical assessment and Enhanced CRB Disclosure. In order that you give yourself every opportunity to pass, we have outlined the tests that you are required to perform at the end of this document. The pass marks for each test are of a high standard due to the requirements of the duties involved. Advice to Prospective Candidates The fitness test is designed to assess your ability to carry out peak demands of ambulance work. This is necessary to ensure that you have sufficient physical ability to cope with extreme work demands as and when these occur and to minimise the health / injury known to exist within low fitness groups when regularly engaged in such hard physical work. The fitness test is described at the end of this sheet. If you feel that your current fitness level may impede your ability to complete such a test, follow the advice given below. In order to assist your preparation, it is recommended that you start and follow a regular programme of fitness training, which should commence at the earliest opportunity. Any exercise that is continuous, rhythmical and engages the large muscle groups of the body would be suitable. Typical activities are Walking, Jogging, Cycling, Rowing, Swimming, Aerobic / Dance / Step. Exercise should be brisk and vigorous, leaving you sweating and moderately breathless. It should NOT cause exhaustion or leave you totally breathless, or with aching muscles. Intensity levels should be between 70% - 90% of your age predicted maximum heart rate, calculated by subtracting your age from 220 and multiplying by 0.7 or 0.9. Start the programme at the lower intensity (70%) and gradually progress over a period of weeks to the higher level as your fitness level increases. A simple method of
determining your fitness level can be obtained by measuring your resting heart rate. This is best taken immediately upon waking after a good nights sleep. Allow five minutes relaxation if waking to an alarm clock. The average resting heart rate for men and women is between 60 and 80 beats per minute. Poorly trained, sedentary individuals may have heart rates that exceed 100 beats per minute. Resting heart rate levels can decrease as a result of undertaking some form of physical activity, especially for people who do little or no exercise. You should aim to complete 3-5 sessions per week at this intensity, beginning with 15-30 minutes and progressing to longer sessions as your fitness level increases. You will find as you progress you can extend the duration of your exercise periods. You may wish to mix exercise types for variety and include some form of weight training for strength improvement. Always include a gradual warm up before vigorous exercise and a cool down after completion. These include gentle mobilisation of the muscles and joints and some stretches for flexibility. If you have not been following a regular systematic training programme similar to that outlined above, you are unlikely to be able to complete the test satisfactorily. NOTE: It is suggested you consult your GP before starting any exercise programme, especially if:
You have not engaged in physical activity for some time.
You are not used to exercise. You suspect any problems (e.g. heart, joint or muscle)
that may be made worse by exercise. Do not exercise if you have or are recovering from colds, flu, fever, etc. If you require further specific advice about types of exercise, intensities or duration, seek the assistance of a reputable, qualified fitness trainer or health club, explaining your requirements.
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TESTS The pre-test conditions require that you do not eat, drink or smoke for 2 hours prior to the appointment. In addition you are advised not to take any aerobic exercise prior to the ap-pointment on the day of the test. You should wear or bring with you clothing which is appropriate, e.g. track suit and trainers. Grip Strength You are required to squeeze a grip meter which records measurements. This test is performed up to 3 times for each hand. You will be expected to reach a score of 40-35 (men) and 40-32 (women) in dominant hand and 38-33 (men) and 38-30 (women) in the subordinate hand over the three tests. The test is in place to measure how strong the hand and arm muscles are and can be likened to use of a nut cracker. Leg and Back Pull This test measures the strength in your leg and back mus-cles. You will be asked to pull against resistance in a standing po-sition. The measurement will be recorded and should reach 150kg (men) and 140kg (women). Sit and Reach This is like touching your toes. The test is performed sitting on the floor and reaching towards a measurement board. You will be expected to push the stretch indicator block 30cm beyond your toes. Aerobic Stop Test This is performed in two phases. Phase one involves a warm up test whilst your heart is be-ing monitored. You will be stepping on and off a 30cm step in 3 incremental two minute stages, increasing the rate of stepping as you progress. Your heart rate will be recorded at the end of each two-minute interval. The test will end if you are unable to complete any stage or if your heart rises above 80% of the predicted maximum value.
As well as the above EPS, candidates will be expected to complete the following after a two-minute rest period, there is no rest period between the following tests:
Stepping whilst carrying a 10kg weight (mock first response kit) for two minutes on the 30cm step.
Resuscitation (heart compressions only) for two min-utes.
Stepping whilst carrying two 15kg weights (just less than half the weight of the average human by stretcher) for 3 minutes on the 15cm and 30cm steps.
The rest will end if you are unable to complete any stage, or if your heart rises above 90% of the predicted maximum value.
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