Vision requirements

[JPierce21]

What is the standard vision requirement for getting on with a dept?
My current vision "with contacts" is 20/30, without it is 20/200. Laser surgery is not an option for me because of my stigmatism "sp". I am currently in the academy and just wondering if this may hurt my chances of getting on.

[SQUAD5]

The NFPA reccommendation was 20/30 corrected and 20/100 uncorrected but it does get waived with soft contacts. Also FYI they did change this reccommendation to 20/40 last year so you should be ok. If you have any questions check with NFPA. Also the dept. has to right to set whatever standard they want like some have 20/20 and that's it but most follow NFPA's reccommandation.

[helix7]

"Waived with soft contacts"? As in, even if your vision sucks without contacts, as long as you wear contacts it isn't an issue? Just want to make sure I'm reading that right...

[helix7]

A firefighter in another online forum told me that you can't wear contacts in a fire because if the fire is hot enough it could melt the contacts onto your retina. Any truth to this? Anyone here wearing contacts on the job?

I'm no firefighter and I'm just at the beginning stages of learning about firefighting, but this sounds a bit odd to me. I would think that if you're in a fire hot enough to melt contacts onto your eye, you've probably got bigger problems than trying to get out with your eyesight intact.

[KingHippo]

You'll find about 90% of Dr.'s offices use the same eye chart.

Just remember "DEF PO TEC"

They'll ask you to cover one eye, and read line 8 (it's always line 8). Say "D, E, F... (pause for effect) P, O, T... E... C!"

Next, they'll ask you to read line 8 (again, it's always line 8) backwards while covering the other eye. Say "C, E, T... (Another dramatic pause) O, P, F, E.... D!"

You can be looking at the ceiling (I was), and still pass this test. Just remember "def po tec" and you'll be set (unless they use a different eye chart, then you're screwed).

Now that you've nailed the eye exam, we move into the next room for the hearing test (I've worked for a few departments, so I've done this several times). After sitting in the sound proof booth and putting on the headphones, look through the window at the lady pressing the buttons. You know the deal: each time your hear a beep, you raise your hand or press a button or something. You'll often find that the lady testing you will look at you a bit more intesely each time there is a beep. Rather than listen for the beep, just wait for her to look at you, then raise your hand (or press the button or whatever it is). It doesn't matter if you can't hear anything, just act confident, and when you're done, you'll be told that you have the best hearing of anyone they've ever seen.

Now it's on to the drug test. This part is the easiest of all to pass: Just don't do drugs!

[0ptical42]

Originally posted by helix7
A firefighter in another online forum told me that you can't wear contacts in a fire because if the fire is hot enough it could melt the contacts onto your retina. Any truth to this? Anyone here wearing contacts on the job?

I'm no firefighter and I'm just at the beginning stages of learning about firefighting, but this sounds a bit odd to me. I would think that if you're in a fire hot enough to melt contacts onto your eye, you've probably got bigger problems than trying to get out with your eyesight intact.

I've been wearing contacts since I joined my volunteer fd a year and a half ago. The only slight issue is that sometimes my contacts irritate my eyes because they start to become dried out a bit from the air in the SCBA. Others in my fd choose to put in an insert into their mask which act like glasses.