Courses: Stamina and muscle strength for search and rescue training

The course contains a stamina test and a strength test that is conducted in accordance with Offshore Norways guidelines and satisfies requirements for smoke divers offshore.

Stamina test

At Nosefo, you can choose between one of the following 2 alternative endurance tests to document that you satisfy the requirement for oxygen uptake:

• Option 1 (Treadmill test with 17 kg weight and 12% incline) The test person has a backpack with a weight of 17 kg on the back. This corresponds to the weight of the compressed air device consisting of a steel tank. Warm-up with weight load 17 kg on a flat mill at a speed of 4 km/h for three minutes. Then the speed is increased to 5.6 km/h and the incline is set to 12% (= 6.84 degrees). The person completes the test itself for six minutes. Persons who during the test have to relieve by holding the railing next to the treadmill have not passed. (If the subject has to touch the railing / grip the railing until the balance is re-established due to instability, this should not lead to the test being considered as failed).
• Option 2 (Cooper test): A: Warm-up, leisurely jog, 10 min on a flat treadmill at a speed of 8 km/h. After the warm-up is completed, the speed is set at 10.5 km/h and the subject runs for 12 min (flat mill). The test is passed if the person completes 12 minutes of running at this speed.

Strength test

1. Test of arm stretchers and chest muscles (push-ups)

• Exercise description: The test person is wearing underwear, sneakers, protective clothing and a composite tank(approx. 10 kg). Requirements for passing the test: 5 repetitions

2. Test of elbow flexors and shoulder muscles (Hang-ups, horizontal)

• Exercise description: Test person wears underwear, sneakers and protective clothing. The test person rises so that the chest touches the boom/bar and then gently descends back to the starting position with straight arms. The body should be completely straight during execution. Requirements for passing the test: 5 repetitions

3. Test of knee and hip extensors (squats)

• Exercise description: The test person is wearing underwear, sneakers, emergency clothing and a composite bottle (approx. 10 kg) in a seat belt. The knee bends should be so deep that the hip joint comes lower than the knee joint. The back should always be almost vertical during the execution. The arms are for support only. They should always be as straight as possible and only help to keep the balance and body straight. Requirements for passing the test: 15 repetitions

Prerequisites

Documentation of an approved health examination for smoke divers. Ref. Offshore Norway guidance

Duration

The tests take about 30 minutes to complete