Is cpat mandatory

[CodyK]

I found this online regarding the school I'll be attending (this is for entry to the school)
PART A: Aerobic Capacity Test: Walk 2 miles while wearing a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus within 30 minutes or less.
PART B: On-Target Combat Task Test: Must be completed within 7 minutes or less while wearing a SCBA.
1. High-Rise Stair Climb-Ascend the exterior stairwell to the 5th floor while carrying a section of 2 ½” hose
2. Hose Hoist- Hoist a roll of 2 ½” hose to the 5th floor window and pull the hose into the window.
3. Forcible Entry Evolution- Drive a slide 5’ utilizing a 12 pound sledge hammer.
4. Hose Advance Evolution- Drag a charged 1 ¾” hose a total of 75’.
*5. Victim Rescue Evolution- Drag a 125 pound victim a total of 100’ while walking backwards.

I thought you had to pass the cpat prior to enrolling are they able to amend testing to see if you can enroll? Seems pretty easy only thing I was wondering is if you actually have the mask on... or they just put the tank on so you have to carry the weight. I'll have to call to ask about that but that shouldn't make that big of a difference.

[fire49]

Sounds like alot of other schools they want to see if you know something or able to do something before they waste everyones time

[ffbam24]

I like it!
Too many departments have been having to fail PC and utilize the CPAT. Seriously, you have to be trying to fail this thing or be completely out of shape.
This sounds like a great reboot to weed out those that just barely squeak by it. It also establishes a candidate's ability to use an SCBA and not have to deal with the claustrophobia some newcomers may experience and gives measure of the cabdidate's physical conditioning.

Let us know. I'm curious to know if both portions are done on air. It appears Part A is but can't tell for sure on Part B. It might just be for the weight in that portion.

** I will say though that the thought of wearing an SCBA for 2 miles is not very thrilling. I dislike having to wear one and walking two blocks.

[mikeyboy411]

Well, as I see it yep.....

[CodyK]

I like it!
Too many departments have been having to fail PC and utilize the CPAT. Seriously, you have to be trying to fail this thing or be completely out of shape.
This sounds like a great reboot to weed out those that just barely squeak by it. It also establishes a candidate's ability to use an SCBA and not have to deal with the claustrophobia some newcomers may experience and gives measure of the cabdidate's physical conditioning.

Let us know. I'm curious to know if both portions are done on air. It appears Part A is but can't tell for sure on Part B. It might just be for the weight in that portion.

** I will say though that the thought of wearing an SCBA for 2 miles is not very thrilling. I dislike having to wear one and walking two blocks.

Just to clarify... the cpat is done prior to starting ff academy correct? To make sure you are in decent enough shape to complete it right? I wasn't sure if it was before the academy or after as like a final test type thing.

I have no issue with the weight my only concern was having to wear the mask. I've never worn a breathing mask of any kind. I guess the key would be to just keep your breathing under control. I'm excited the only curve ball is whether or not the mask has to be worn because there is no way to "train" for that other than just having it on.

[ffbam24]

I cannot answer for the school/department you are applying to. The CPAT is a nationally standardized test that many departments have adopted in lieu of their own locally used physical agility in order for a certain demographic to pass. Whether or not they choose to make it "mandatory" to pass prior to starting their classes is their own option.

Here it has even become a formality to pass at the end of our academy, which paled in comparison to what we normally did for this type of "job specific" physical training while in the academy.

Your best bet at this point is to contact the school with your questions here. A world wide forum isn't going to have the answers about a non-named school you're applying to. If it is required to be on air while taking the test, maybe they'll let you practice with one beforehand?

Good luck.

[edpmedic]

Just to clarify... the cpat is done prior to starting ff academy correct? To make sure you are in decent enough shape to complete it right? I wasn't sure if it was before the academy or after as like a final test type thing.

I have no issue with the weight my only concern was having to wear the mask. I've never worn a breathing mask of any kind. I guess the key would be to just keep your breathing under control. I'm excited the only curve ball is whether or not the mask has to be worn because there is no way to "train" for that other than just having it on.

You can do everything with a SCBA that you can do normally. The only difference for me is that it only lets you suck in a certain amount of air with each breath. If you really need to fill up, you can't. In our academy, we did work performance circuits, which were much more grueling than the CPAT, while on air. We needed to get through twice on one air bottle, so we had to condition ourselves not to hyperventilate too much and use up our air. Besides obvious real world applications, that helped with our confined space/maze evolutions. You're on air, with your mask blacked out. If you run out of air, you fail. If you're claustrophobic, you're not going to make it through the maze.

Here's one video; there are many more on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM5qm4tfylc

You can train to control your breathing while on air. The workout is called "breathing ladders." You can read about it on www.firegroundfitness.com

Look for "breath ladders" for an explanation.

[fire49]

Cody

Any firefighter friends that might hook you up to a scba, so you can get use to it???


Or rent one????

[CodyK]

You can do everything with a SCBA that you can do normally. The only difference for me is that it only lets you suck in a certain amount of air with each breath. If you really need to fill up, you can't. In our academy, we did work performance circuits, which were much more grueling than the CPAT, while on air. We needed to get through twice on one air bottle, so we had to condition ourselves not to hyperventilate too much and use up our air. Besides obvious real world applications, that helped with our confined space/maze evolutions. You're on air, with your mask blacked out. If you run out of air, you fail. If you're claustrophobic, you're not going to make it through the maze.

Here's one video; there are many more on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM5qm4tfylc

You can train to control your breathing while on air. The workout is called "breathing ladders." You can read about it on www.firegroundfitness.com

Look for "breath ladders" for an explanation.

Thanks for the tips. The classes for the firefighter/emt/and pedic are all in the same building. With alot of the instructors doing both. I've got emt class tonight I'll try to remember to ask.

On another note the emt stuff is pretty in-depth so far. I'm having to study alot more than I thought I would just because we cover the material so fast.

[CodyK]

Found out today you just have to wear the tank throughout both parts you don't have to have the mask on. So that's cool doesn't look that tough I think it's just to rule out people who are really out of shape.

[CaptOldTimer]

Found out today you just have to wear the tank throughout both parts you don't have to have the mask on. So that's cool doesn't look that tough I think it's just to rule out people who are really out of shape.

That is the way it has always been.

You could get a back pack and put 25 pounds of something in it and use it in lieu of the scba pack and cylinder.

[DeputyMarshal]

The only difference for me is that it only lets you suck in a certain amount of air with each breath. If you really need to fill up, you can't.

If you're really overbreathing your SCBA, chances are its flow isn't meeting the NFPA standard. (Designed to supply sufficient flow to support 98% of firefighters in high demand activity.)

[CodyK]

That is the way it has always been.

You could get a back pack and put 25 pounds of something in it and use it in lieu of the scba pack and cylinder.

I've got a weighted vest that holds up to 40lbs. I've walked stairs with 25lbs in it a few times I'll probably add a bit more this week.

The forceable entry is different than the cpat it's not you standing upright and hitting the plate. You are bent over at the waste and swinging between your legs to drive this metal piece back. I don't see what that simulates because I don't think you open a door that way.

[edpmedic]

I've got a weighted vest that holds up to 40lbs. I've walked stairs with 25lbs in it a few times I'll probably add a bit more this week.

The forceable entry is different than the cpat it's not you standing upright and hitting the plate. You are bent over at the waste and swinging between your legs to drive this metal piece back. I don't see what that simulates because I don't think you open a door that way.

You're talking about the Keiser Sled. It's supposed to mimic doing roof ventilation with an axe, I believe.

[edpmedic]

If you're really overbreathing your SCBA, chances are its flow isn't meeting the NFPA standard. (Designed to supply sufficient flow to support 98% of firefighters in high demand activity.)

It's the same with any pack I've used. I can take a deep breath, it's only that it will never let me take as deep of a breath that I could take without one. I can get maybe 85% of my deepest breath while masked up. Maybe it's just the weight and the straps constricting my respiratorty muscles a little. I'm not sure.