Pre-Hire Physical (I failed)

AnnAk

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Hello. I am 5’0 and around almost 100 lbs. I recently failed my physical for the ambulance company I applied for.

Candidates pretty much have to be able to:
- bicep curl 75lbs, lift 100lbs in a box, walk with 75lbs in a box to a certain point and back, lift 20 lbs on a table and back on the floor, squat 200lbs, dexterity test, and all of these other stretches and movements candidates have to do.

I failed the 75lbs bicep curl and I am super bummed out.

Is there any advice to get strong biceps fast? And also did anyone else have a similar physical test like the one I mentioned above?

Thanks for the help!
 

SandpitMedic

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What company is making you do curls?!
 

Aprz

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I probably would've failed too, and I've been in EMS for years now. O_O
 

0theories

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That's crazy. What is it some special forces EMS? I've done physical tests for at least 3 different companies and none came close to that!
 
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AnnAk

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What company is making you do curls?!
It’s LifeMed Alaska. My proctor actually told me that their physical is actually the hardest one they have conducted for many years... harder than the Alaska state troopers and airport staff who have to take their physicals.
 

Aprz

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Lifting weights into and out of the ambulance, carrying bags up and down stairs, and doing chest compressions for several minutes. Usually they would test combine our strength, endurance, and then also make sure our dexterity was still good even after exerting ourselves (eg have us ventilate a mannequin and/or attaching a flow meter to the oxygen bottle).
 

SandpitMedic

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It’s LifeMed Alaska. My proctor actually told me that their physical is actually the hardest one they have conducted for many years... harder than the Alaska state troopers and airport staff who have to take their physicals.
I am in AK. PM me.
 

0theories

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What did those three physicals consists of?

All 3 were basically the same. Pull out and replace gurney without battery, pick up and walk around with some weights (can't remember how much, but light. 30lbs maybe), go up and down some stairs with weights. Walk backwards... That's about it. Maybe I had to lift something over my head...
 
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AnnAk

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Lifting weights into and out of the ambulance, carrying bags up and down stairs, and doing chest compressions for several minutes. Usually they would test combine our strength, endurance, and then also make sure our dexterity was still good even after exerting ourselves (eg have us ventilate a mannequin and/or attaching a flow meter to the oxygen bottle).
Wow that’s completely different to what the company I am applying for is making candidates do for the physicals.
 

CCCSD

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200 lb squat? What relevance is that? Lifting a moose you hit off the hood?
 

Summit

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Physical tests must be demonstrably related to expected job function. Otherwise, they can be considered discriminatory. IANAL but this particular issue has come up recently.
 

FiremanMike

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200 lb squat? What relevance is that? Lifting a moose you hit off the hood?

Squats are infinitely more useful in the mechanics used in EMS..

Also, 200 pounds is nothing.. if you weigh anywhere near 200 pounds then you’re almost squatting that just getting off the toilet..
 

CCCSD

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Squatting to a standing position using your own weight is not the same as squatting 200. By your example, you would be squatting 400.
 

Tigger

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Hello. I am 5’0 and around almost 100 lbs. I recently failed my physical for the ambulance company I applied for.

Candidates pretty much have to be able to:
- bicep curl 75lbs, l

I failed the 75lbs bicep curl and I am super bummed out.
What does "pretty much" mean? Did you have actually have to curl 75 with free weights or a barbell? Or lift a weighted sled type thing as if you were loading a manual cot (which is mostly legs anyway).
 
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AnnAk

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What does "pretty much" mean? Did you have actually have to curl 75 with free weights or a barbell? Or lift a weighted sled type thing as if you were loading a manual cot (which is mostly legs anyway).
It’s on a scale thing (I forgot what It’s called), candidates pull this belt and it measures how much you can bicep curl, I was only able to get 45lbs
 
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AnnAk

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What does "pretty much" mean? Did you have actually have to curl 75 with free weights or a barbell? Or lift a weighted sled type thing as if you were loading a manual cot (which is mostly legs anyway).
Oh I remember now it was called a static bicep curl
 
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