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:  

• 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.

If you're unsure about meeting the eyesight requirements, we strongly advise consulting an optician before applying to be a Firefighter.  

If there are any costs involved with the independent completion of the required eyesight reports this will not be compensated by SFRS. 

The eyesight requirements for the role of a Firefighter are:  

• 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  

Minor colour vision defects 

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

Applicants 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.