If the general public has ever doubted the fitness levels required to be a firefighter – they should definitely visit next year’s British Firefighter Challenge!
We had the privilege of attending the event ourselves this year, having sponsored since the inaugural event in 2016.
We were staggered by the enthusiasm and effort shown by organisers, competitors and visitors alike. It’s clear that these sorts of challenges bring the firefighting community together and help showcase the skills of the profession to the general public.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
To complete the challenge, competitors must accomplish 8 tasks in timed conditions – fastest completion of all tasks is the winner! The 8 tasks are:
- Stair Ascent – a three-storey climb.
- Hose Haul – as the name suggests, once at the top of the three-storey tower, they must haul up one length of 70mm delivery hose and place it in the box provided.
- Stair Descent – Competitors descend the tower and must step on every single stair.
- Keiser Force – The competitor must have both feet on a platform and using the hammer provided, hit the weight the full distance of the Forcible Entry Machine.
- Hose Drag – The Competitor connects a length of 70mm lay flat delivery hose to a portable pump delivery and then drag the hose 60 metres.
- Hose Make-up – One length of 7-mm lay flat delivery hose must be rolled up and placed in the box provided.
- Container Carry – four foam containers weighing approximately 20kg each will be collected and carried a short distance away – they must be placed in the area provided, not thrown or slid unto the area.
- Casualty Rescue – a (Ruth Lee) 70kg manikin is placed at one end of a 50m track, competitors run the length of this and then drag the dummy back to the finish line.
FAMILY FUN
One thing was immediately apparent at the event – firefighters are a real community and as such, many friends and family members had travelled to the Challenge to cheer on the competitors. We were located in the middle of the action, alongside the Casualty Rescue lane and from there, many firefighters and their families ventured onto our stand to take a look at a range of manikins. Especially popular was the Casualty Evacuation manikin, which weighs in at 55kg and was designed with the firefighter recruitment and annual fitness tests in mind.
Visiting firefighters gave us great feedback on this product and in fact, their children were especially keen to ‘give it a go’ themselves in a bid to be as strong as their mum or dad!
Wow, what a day it was! The Team at Ruth Lee would like to thank the organisers of the British Firefighter Challenge for putting on such a fantastic event – it is certainly one which will appear in our calendars from now on, and one which we will point people to whenever they question the fitness levels required of firemen and women!