Viewranger – The App for Adventurers.

We’ve only just discovered the Viewranger App, and we just had to share it with you.

Viewranger is a gps app that is used by over 85% of Mountain Rescue teams in England and Wales.

It provides complete Outdoors GPS by using your phone’s internal GPS the viewranger tracking, navigation and location sharing tools can be used even without a mobile signal.

Here is what it can do:

• View maps – view maps from around the world. Free global maps such as like OpenStreetMap & OpenCycleMap are included as standard.
• Record Routes – ViewRanger can create a mapped trace of all your adventures. It allows you to record your route, view trip summaries, share your adventures, and even include Flickr photos and Twitter messages to share.
• Sports Performance Stats – a range of features to track performance stats for training, competition, or just for fun.
• Search and Locate -View real-time on-screen map coordinates, find locations using map coordinates and mark important locations. Search for places on the map by place name or postcode.
• Share  real time location – a free location tracker service called BuddyBeacon allows you to share your location with others and to view the location of others on your smartphone.
• Active Navigation – the app can guide you to a map coordinate or along a route with on-screen guidance and alerts if you veer off-course.
• Route Planning – plan trips, calculate distances and create your own routes.

So if you haven’t downloaded it yet, then do it now at www.viewranger.com.

Remember White Knight are suppliers of:

• Rechargeable Flashlights
• Torches, Handlamps and Lanterns
• Worklamps and Signalling Lamps.

Call us on +44 (0) 23 9266 8624

What little child doesn’t dream of growing up to become Fireman Sam and rescue cats from tall trees?

Becoming a firefighter entails so much more than the ability to wear a jacket with shiny buttons – in fact, the shiny buttons have disappeared.

Recruitment for firefighters only happens once in a while, and a number of excellent serving firefighters have spent months, even years of applying before being recruited.

The Fire Services website details the criteria needed to become a successful firefighter. These include:

Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Commitment to Diversity and Integrity – understands and respects diversity and adopts a fair and ethical approach in all situations.
• Openness to Change – is open to change and actively seeks to support it.
• Confidence and Resilience – maintains a confident and resilient attitude in highly challenging situations.

• Working with Others – works effectively with others both within the Fire and Rescue Service and in the community.
• Effective Communication – communicates effectively both orally and in writing.
• Commitment to Development – committed to and able to develop self and others.
• Problem Solving – understands, recalls, applies and adapts relevant information in an organised, safe and systematic way.
• Situational Awareness – maintains an active awareness of the environment to promote safe and effective working.
• Commitment to Excellence – Adopts a conscientious and proactive approach to work to achieve and maintain excellent standards.

Physical Tests

• Ladder Climb
• Casualty Evacuation
• Ladder Lift / Lower Simulation
• Enclosed Spaces
• Equipment Assembly
• Equipment Carry

Psychological Tests

The tests are split in to the following two categories:

1. National Firefighter Psychological Tests
   1. Working with Numbers
   2. Understanding Information
   3. Situational Awareness and Problem Solving
2. National Firefighter Questionnaire
   1. Working with Others – works effectively with others both within the Fire Service and the community.
   2. Commitment to Diversity and Integrity – understand and respects diversity and adopts a fair and ethical approach to others.
   3. Confidence and Resilience – maintains a confident and resilient attitude in highly challenging situations.
   4. Commitment to Excellence – adopts a conscientious and proactive approach to work to achieve and maintain excellent standards.
   5. Commitment to Development – committed to and able to develop self and others.
   6. Situational Awareness – maintains an active awareness of the environment to promote safe and effective working.
   7. Openness to Change – is open to change and actively seeks to support it within the Fire Service and in the community.

Medical Tests

• Medical Records and Questionnaires – your medical records will be requested, and a medical screening form will need to be completed before further tests are permitted
• Hearing Test – you will sit in a sound proof booth wearing headphones and will be asked to press a button when you hear a range of sounds.
• Step Test – you will be asked to step up and down on a box whilst your heart rate is monitored and the rate of step is gradually increased. (May vary in different FRS’s)
• Lung Function – you will be asked to blow hard and long down a hollow tube until all your lung capacity is fully exhaled – a reading is taken and assessed accordingly.
• Physical Stamina – you will be asked to squat on a machine designed to test your back and thigh strength and then pull a specified measurement.
• General Tests – you will finally see the doctor who will test your reflexes and discuss your medical questionnaire with you.
• Chest X-Ray – some FRS’s will send you to the local hospital for a chest x-ray.
• Eyesight Tests – various vision and colour tests will be carried out.

If you still think becoming a firefighter is for you, then visit the UK Fire Services website where you’ll find a wealth of information for firefighters.