Becoming A Fire Fighter: Consider The Fire Fighter 1 Course

One of the most essential components to becoming a successful fire fighter is receiving the proper training, such as EMCARE's fire fighter 1 course. Our fire fighter 1 course provides you with all the necessary skills and knowledge to becoming a professional fire fighter. Keep reading this article to find out more about EMCARE's fire fighting training and other steps that will help you to launch into your firefighting career.

What Is The Fire Fighter 1 Course?

Our fire fighter 1 course consists of an amalgamation of drill field practice, classroom study and training evolutions that have been designed to prepare you for handling most fire ground functions. These training courses will be led under the guidance of either an experienced firefighter or a safety officer. The duration of the course takes nine weeks to finish and once completed, you will be awarded with valid certification that has no expiry date.

As a specialised Health & Safety training company, our fire fighter 1 course is internationally accredited by IFSAC and is based on NFPA 1001: Standard For Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. If you're looking to become an integral member of a firefighting team under the direct guidance in dangerous conditions, then this course is designed for you. Some of the content you'll be learning within the fire fighter 1 course include:

• Water Supply
• Fire Behaviour
• Firefighter Safety & Health
• Fire Origin And Cause Determination
• Orientation And Fire Service History
• Relevant SA Legislation
• Structural Search, Firefighter Survival And Victim Removal
• Rescue Tools, Scene Lighting, Technical Rescue And Vehicle Extrication
• Recognize And Identify Hazardous Materials
• Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment
• NFPA 471, 472 And 473
• Command, Safety And Scene Control

Pre-requisites For The Fire Fighter 1 Course:

While we encourage anyone hoping to become a professional firefighter to acquire the necessary skills under our training program, there are few fundamental skills and traits you may need to possess to be considered a viable candidate. These are some important pre-requisites you'll need to have before applying for our fire fighter 1 course:

• Have Grade 12 Or Equivalent Certification.
• Come With A Fitness Declaration.
• You Cannot Have Claustrophobia.
• Have A Valid Medical Certificate.
• Be Able To Both Read And Write English Proficiently.
• You Cannot Have Acrophobia.

Whilst the fire fighter 1 course is only available to take at our Polokwane branch, we may be able to provide our training at your premises under special circumstances. This, however, may only be applicable if the location of your premises complies with our requirements.

What Other Steps Are Required To Becoming A Fire Fighter?

If you're serious about pursuing a career as a professional firefighter, there are a few essential tips and tricks that can aid you in your training. Considering that the firefighting field is a fiercely competitive industry to break into, you'll need all the help you can get. To name a few, here are some steps that can help you to become a successful firefighter in addition to training under our fire fighter 1 course:

• Visit Fire Stations:
  Establishing connections with existing fire stations and understanding how they work is a crucial part of not only learning the ins and outs of where you'll eventually working, but also becoming acquainted with professionals in the industry. Our fire fighter 1 course may provide you with the necessary training, but popping into fire stations is a great way to gain some advice or support through potential mentors in the field.
  
  
• Understand Every Phase Of The Process:
  A key responsibility that comes with pursuing a career in firefighting is being committed and prepared for lengthy and tedious hiring and training process. In addition to our fire fighter 1 training, there are various steps and further courses you may need to take to really put your foot in the door. At EMCARE, each of our courses build upon each other to form an extensive and cohesive foundation that will provide you with the proper training to enter the world of professional firefighting.
  
  
• Commit Your Time To Volunteering:
  Getting first-hand experience in your desired career field is a major bonus for anyone looking at your CV. The firefighting field is no different as volunteering is considered a vital component of your training. Whether or not your volunteer work involves fire-related endeavours, having the experience will bode well for your potential employers. With the addition of your fire fighter 1 training and some reliable references on your CV, you'll be working alongside professional firefighters in no time.
  
  
• Learn All There Is To Know About Fire Service & Get First-Hand Experience:
  Committing to the life of a firefighter means more than being able to pay your bills, it's a career you should be passionate about and inspire you. From subscribing to official firefighting publications to doing extensive research, you'll need to be prepared will all the necessary information on firefighting. There is no such thing as being overprepared, be ready to answer all the tough questions and know which role you'll like to fulfill in the field prior to applying for jobs. If you're serious about pursuing firefighting professionally, find out what service truly means to you.
  
  
• Have A Clean Lifestyle And Background:
  When it comes to community service roles, maintaining a clean background is especially important as those who will be serving you will be relying on your trust. Not only should you acquire training under our fire fighter 1 course, but you should also ensure that your record is clear of traffic tickets, domestic abuse, a history of arrests or any other laws that may have been broken. Having any record of crimes, you have committed will count against you in the hiring process, so try to uphold a clean and law-abiding lifestyle.