As a firefighter or EMT, you may end up at some point trying to squeeze through a tiny space to save a life. As such, you will need to be certified in confined space entry and rescue training. This is not just a sit, read, and take a test sort of training. On the contrary, you will have a skills test along with the text/classroom training. Here are some tips on how to pass your skills training test.
Be as Fit as You Can Be
Confined spaces are not made for the husky individual. If you know that this type of training is a requirement for your job, you will have to slim down and get as fit as you possibly can get. There will be some confined spaces where crawling through on your stomach may result in getting stuck if your abdomen and rib cage get caught behind a chunk of broken concrete and you can neither move forward or back because of it. Spelunkers who have spent their lives crawling through caves have died in this very fashion, and you certainly do not want to die on the job that way. Slimming down and toning up not only helps you pass your confined space skills test, but it also improves your ability to do your job and prevent your own injuries or death in the process.
Keep in Mind That You May Have to Squeeze Your Rescue Equipment Ahead of You in Dark Spaces
Part or all of your skills test may be conducted in the dark. That is because confined spaces are dark. With the exception of a fire blazing all around you, rescuing someone from a confined space requires going into a very dark place and trying to "see" your way around and out of this space. You may have rescue equipment with you too, which means that you will have to remember to put your equipment ahead of your own body through the opening of the confined space. In the event that you yourself cannot get through, the person or persons trapped on the other side will still be able to get to the equipment (if they can move and are not trapped under something).
Simulations of Confined Space May Include Squeezing Through the Opening in a Ladder
There are plenty of videos online showing someone taking a confined space rescue test. In these videos, all manner of devices are used to mimic confined space, including a ladder. The person taking the test squeezes through the opening between two rungs of a ladder to pass the test. This, and other means of simulating confined space, may be part of your skills test, too.
Should you work as a consultant? If you have knowledge and expertise in a particular field, and yet you do not want to work full-time for a single company, consulting can be an excellent way to build a career. In this type of career, you would work on a temporary basis for various companies that needed your expertise for a period. Consulting gives you a lot of flexibility and is a great resume builder, but it also comes with its challenges — it can be inconsistent, and you always need to be on the hunt for new clients. This website is designed to discuss the ins and outs of consulting. Start reading, and you'll come to a better understanding of the field.