Between 73 to 88 percent of firefighters are overweight or obese. Becoming a firefighter means you must pass rigorous fitness requirements. Therefore it is in the best interest of each candidate to prepare well in advance to reach his or her maximum fitness level. Males who are 5 feet and 8 inches should get their weight down to 169 pounds. Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for heart disease metabolic syndrome high blood pressure high cholesterol diabetes cancer and sleep disorders. Physical strength and mental alertness are both required as well as bravery and the desire to help others.
The requirements to be a firefighter in a large metropolis like new york city or chicago are extremely stringent. Firefighters who are overweight and obese are also less fit to perform their jobs and suffer a larger number. Being in good physical shape is more important than height however. Meet basic requirements to become a firefighter. This standard identifies the minimum job performance requirements jprs for career and volunteer fire fighters whose duties are primarily structural in nature. Firefighter anthropometric data white paper 10 20 07doc 5 10202007 height standing 5th percentile 50th percentile 95th percentile average standard deviation median minimum maximum height standing barefoot in combined 653 700 745 700 28 700 600 798 height standing barefoot in male 658 703 745 702 27 703 613 798.
Weight body fat content must be proportionate to height for men and women. These recommendations but you are very muscular then you are probably ok. For example a male who is 6 feet tall should these weights are only general guidelines as we use body fatcontent and not weight to make the final decision. Firefighting in these conditions requires a level of knowledge and training thats very different than. The fire academy as well as the job of firefighting is physically demanding. This is because of the difficulty of fighting fires and rescuing people in compact areas with so many extremely tall buildings.
Firefighting is a demanding occupation both physically and psychologically. These requirements vary slightly between fire departments but the basics typically remain the same nationwide. The candidates typically wear a 50 pound weighted vest or full firefighting gear during the timed tests. In order to become a firefighter you will need a valid drivers license and meet the age requirement of 18 years old. Every inch above 58 add 5 pounds.
Gallery of Firefighter Height Weight Requirements
