Medical check-up

We need to make sure that our firefighters are both medically and physically fit. Also, in advance of your attendance at medical, you will be required to visit your optician. This is to have an eyesight examination report completed by them.

The medical assessment will include measurement or assessment of your: 

• Height
• Weight
• Blood Pressure
• Spirometry (lung function assessment)
• Audiometry (hearing assessment)
• Urinalysis
• Analysis of any skin conditions
• Review of your medical history

Your health information is confidential. This will not be passed on to anyone other than the Health and Wellbeing staff without your consent.

They will assess and talk to you about any health issues that might impact your capacity to be a firefighter. In some cases, we may need to seek further information from your GP.

The technical eyesight requirements for a firefighter are detailed below which you can provide to your optician.

• Uncorrected visual acuity should be at least 6/18 or better in the best eye and 6/24 or better in the worst eye
• Corrected acuity should be a minimum of 6/7.5 in the best eye, with the worse eye at least 6/12
• The ability to read N6 at 30cm (under 25 years) or N12 at 30cm (25 years and over) unaided binocularly
• Normal visual fields to confrontation in both eyes 

If there are any costs involved with the independent completion of the required eyesight reports you can not reclaim this from SFRS.

Minor colour vision defects 

Minor colour vision defects may be acceptable, subject to the results of specialist testing.

Candidates failing the Ishihara screening test will be informed by the optician. The result and further steps will be discussed at the medical to determine type and severity of the colour vision defect. Further specialist testing may be required. 

Surgical correction 

Candidates who have had surgical correction (e.g. laser correction) can be admitted after a period of 12 months. The candidate will still need to meet the above standards and have no evidence of other complications.

Eye disorders 

Other eye disorders will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

We do not perform specific tests on your mental and psychological health and well-being.

We encourage candidates to thoughtfully consider the intellectual, psychological, and emotional demands of the firefighter role.

The role is as mentally demanding as it is physically challenging, and candidates should feel confident in their abilities and resilience to handle difficult and sometimes traumatic situations.