Garda Recruitment - Stage 3a - Medical Examination

Shield

Post your experiences, questions or concerns for the Medical Examination in this thread.

blue2b

this section would b me. .waitin waitin waitin.........zzzzzzzzzzz

kaizersoze1980

I belong here I think! Medical done, but waiting to get laser surgery !

greydiamond

How strict are they on the eye test? Probably one of the biggest things im worried about

srdb20

Ye i think i belong here as well, waiting on the Medical....

Hopefully not too much longer.:D

Also i think the thread separation looks like it could solve a lot of issues, cheers psni

Paolo5

I wonder if this new format will kill off some users or make the info you are looking for harder to come by. For example will people be arsed going back to a stage they have passed to help others!

I am waiting on a medical call so guess I am in here too ........... :cool:

ojewriej

Here is some basic info on the medical, originally posted by MGX:

just completed my medical and went like so
1) arrive and complete a medical questionare at depot (have your doctors phone number handy)
2) hearing test carried out
3) urine test taken
4) blood pressure taken
5) what i can describe as a lung capacity test is taken - you blow hard into a medical instrument which gives an idea of how fit you are (so i was told)
6) brought upstairs to a waiting room to meet the doc then and wait around in very flattering bathrobes with paper gowns on underneath.
7) meet the doc and she/he checks your breathing and gets you to stand up straight on your toes.
8) checks your height and weight - did not mention BMI but the scales gives a digital readout of your total percentage body fat.
9) men have to cough (twice) then!!!
10) look into a box and read lines for your eyesight and also read numbers hidden in designs from a book (colourblind test).
11) my teeth were never checked.
12) they also check your ears and throat to make sure all is okay.


if you were to do the medical straight through you would complete it in about 20 mins but with all the waiting around it took about 2 hours - it flies tough as you meet other guys waiting and you can have a chat and a laugh. hope all goes well for ya.

Hope this helps

kaizersoze1980

Im stuck here for a while!
Had a consultation this morning for eye surgery and I'm a suitable candidate for it, so its going ahead next Friday. After that I have to wait 6 weeks then give a report of my then perfect(hopefully!) vision to the medical officer, who will then give me a date for my PCT.

All my background checks are clear already so this time 7 weeks I will hopefully have a offer for August 6th

kaizersoze1980

greydiamond wrote: »

How strict are they on the eye test? Probably one of the biggest things im worried about

Not majorly strict. If your eyesight is 6/18,6/18 you will pass.

One of mine wasnt so the only option I had was eye surgery.
They will defer your medical for 6 months if you fail over eyesight to allow you to get surgery ,so theyre pretty fair about that.

Fail the medical on any other grounds though and you're back to square 1

ojewriej

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

They will defer your medical for 6 months if you fail over eyesight to allow you to get surgery ,so theyre pretty fair about that.

Fail the medical on any other grounds though and you're back to square 1

They also allow you to fix your teeth if necessary.

quirkek2

Does anybody know what the hearing test involves or how they go about it?

ojewriej

quirkek2 wrote: »

Does anybody know what the hearing test involves or how they go about it?

You will have to sit in a small, soundproof room and put big headphones on. They will also give you a little joystick kind of thing with the button on top of it. You will hear little clicks in the earphones, and each time you hear one, you will have to press the button. That's more or less it.

This test is pretty hard actuallly, sounds are all over the place, in different frequencies, some of them really quiet, aftr the while you get quite paranoid, not knowing whether you are hearing a sound or is it just your imagination. You should also hold your breath, because it's too loud.

Having said that, I don't think there is too many people failing it, I can think of only one poster anyway.

I can't even tell you how long it takes, I was so focused, that i coimpletely lost a track of time. It seemed like ages anyway.

lehanemore

what is the max BMI than anyone has been passed with?

quirkek2

Thanks ojewriej, appreciate that. Sounds strange, ive never heard of anything like that before. When you say other sounds at different frequencies do they put in other sounds that you're not meant to click the button for when you hear them? What im trying to say is that do you have to click the button for every sound you hear and they're basically testing whether you can hear very faint sounds?

Thanks again for the help

ojewriej

quirkek2 wrote: »

. When you say other sounds at different frequencies do they put in other sounds that you're not meant to click the button for when you hear them? What im trying to say is that do you have to click the button for every sound you hear and they're basically testing whether you can hear very faint sounds?

You have to press the button for every sound you hear in the headphones. But they are not all the same, plus sometimes it will be just left ear, sometimes just the right one, and sometimes both.

But the worse part is, or at least it was for me, that after a while you are not sure whether you heard something or not, or was it in the earphones or maybe outside. It can be very confusing. I just kept pressing the button whenever I though i heard something, but to be honest I'm not 100% sure if this is a good strategy, because I don't know if there is any penalties if you press the button when there was no sound.

phowiedaman

lehanemore wrote: »

what is the max BMI than anyone has been passed with?

i think the max bmi is 30. i know someone who was 31 and was told to loose a little weight and was deferred for 6 months

kmurray

hows it going.
anyone have any idea when the meds are on again or are they ongoing all the time

how long are ye waiting at this stage
its been a month or so since i got my letter after the interview

kaizersoze1980

kmurray wrote: »

hows it going.
anyone have any idea when the meds are on again or are they ongoing all the time

they tend to get concentrated in the last month before the next intake, but they do run the whole time also. Id imagine they will start up again in a week or two.

Paolo5

So what type of sounds are we talking in the hearing test?

Beeps and ..........

kaizersoze1980

Paolo5 wrote: »

So what type of sounds are we talking in the hearing test?

Beeps and ..........

just beeps...high pitched ones and low pitched ones

Haz33

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

Im stuck here for a while!
Had a consultation this morning for eye surgery and I'm a suitable candidate for it, so its going ahead next Friday. After that I have to wait 6 weeks then give a report of my then perfect(hopefully!) vision to the medical officer, who will then give me a date for my PCT.

All my background checks are clear already so this time 7 weeks I will hopefully have a offer for August 6th

Glad to hear this Kaiser. Best of luck with it. I'm glad you are getting it sorted in time for august.

Haz33

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

Not majorly strict. If your eyesight is 6/18,6/18 you will pass.

One of mine wasnt so the only option I had was eye surgery.
They will defer your medical for 6 months if you fail over eyesight to allow you to get surgery ,so theyre pretty fair about that.

This is not strictly true. You must be able to read 6/18 6/18 unaided (without glasses) you then have to be able to read 6/12 6/9 corrected.
These are minimum levels. 6/18 is the third line down on the wall chart, 6/12 is the 4th line down and 6/9 is the 5th line down. This means you must, without glasses, read the first 3 lines with both eyes and with or without glasses be able to read at least the 4th line with one eye and at least the fifth line with the other.
Your GP should be able to test this easy enough and it is worth making sure you can reach this level before going up. I was deferred as I missed 2 letters off the 4th lined (corrected) and even though I have perfect vision with my right eye it was a deferal. Luckily I passed this level at the opticians and they accepted a report to pass me fit.

Haz33

This is something everyone can do at home. It id only an indication and is of course not medically sound but it will let you know if you may have a problem.

Sit in front of your boards screen with your face approx 2 foot from monitor. Close one eye and read. Then close the other eye and read. If you are having difficulty reading you may not achieve these standards.
For instance if I close my left eye at this distance, I cant read it but if I put on my glasses I can. I can read it with my right eye from 6-8 feet away.
I'm guessing Kaiser wont be able to read it with one eye but after surgery he will.

This wont work if you have changed font size btw.

Haz33

Just to clarify the required standard is 6/18 6/18 unaided, correctable to 6/9 6/12 with normal colour vision.

The colour vision is tested using the ishihara charts. These are coloured dots with numbers hidden within. You must be able to see and repeat these numbers

daisey

howdy people, just thought id ask if it is true that you do the medical exam in the garda college?

kaizersoze1980

daisey wrote: »

howdy people, just thought id ask if it is true that you do the medical exam in the garda college?

false.

You do it in the Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park


The pct (physical competency test) is done in the garda college in Templemore.

daisey

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

false.

You do it in the Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park


The pct (physical competency test) is done in the garda college in Templemore.

cheers for the info hun

itsallaboutheL

ojewriej wrote: »

You have to press the button for every sound you hear in the headphones. But they are not all the same, plus sometimes it will be just left ear, sometimes just the right one, and sometimes both.

But the worse part is, or at least it was for me, that after a while you are not sure whether you heard something or not, or was it in the earphones or maybe outside. It can be very confusing. I just kept pressing the button whenever I though i heard something, but to be honest I'm not 100% sure if this is a good strategy, because I don't know if there is any penalties if you press the button when there was no sound.

Ditto on imagining the beeps. and yes there is a penalty of sorts for pressing the butten when theres no sound

quirkek2

Does anybody know if you fail the hearing test on the day for example, do you get a chance to sit in the soundproof room again and give it a second attempt?

Thanks again

ojewriej

quirkek2 wrote: »

Does anybody know if you fail the hearing test on the day for example, do you get a chance to sit in the soundproof room again and give it a second attempt?

Thanks again

As far as I know, you can't repeat it. I'm not 100% sure though.

Have a look at this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055275523

And maybe try PMing itsallaboutthel or manaka, they should know for certain.

quirkek2

ojewriej wrote: »

As far as I know, you can't repeat it. I'm not 100% sure though.

Have a look at this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055275523

And maybe try PMing itsallaboutthel or manaka, they should know for certain.

Just done that now ojewriej, thanks for the reply.

GoingBk2School

Hi All,

I've asked this question before, and seen it asked by others, but I've never seen a satisfactory answer posted. Hopefully, with this being a thread specific to the medical, someone will have an answer:

1) Are asthmatics admitted into the Garda? (asthma isn't listed as a medical condition that will potentially bar you)

2) What are the standards required in the lung capacity test?

I ask this because I'm interested in joining but, obviously, I am asthmatic. I'm fit, however, play sport twice a week, and I'm within the BMI threshold. Can anyone provide any info?

Cheers,

GoingBk2School

kaizersoze1980

GoingBk2School wrote: »

Hi All,

I've asked this question before, and seen it asked by others, but I've never seen a satisfactory answer posted. Hopefully, with this being a thread specific to the medical, someone will have an answer:

1) Are asthmatics admitted into the Garda? (asthma isn't listed as a medical condition that will potentially bar you)

2) What are the standards required in the lung capacity test?

I ask this because I'm interested in joining but, obviously, I am asthmatic. I'm fit, however, play sport twice a week, and I'm within the BMI threshold. Can anyone provide any info?

Cheers,

GoingBk2School

I dont know what the standards required for lung test, but i got 550 or so in my first go, she said to try beat that. I got 600 in second go, then she said try again, i got about 650 the third time.

I think it gets easier every time cos your lungs are expanding or something.
Dont know what the standard is though

Haz33

GoingBk2School wrote: »

Hi All,

I've asked this question before, and seen it asked by others, but I've never seen a satisfactory answer posted. Hopefully, with this being a thread specific to the medical, someone will have an answer:

1) Are asthmatics admitted into the Garda? (asthma isn't listed as a medical condition that will potentially bar you)

2) What are the standards required in the lung capacity test?

I ask this because I'm interested in joining but, obviously, I am asthmatic. I'm fit, however, play sport twice a week, and I'm within the BMI threshold. Can anyone provide any info?

Cheers,

GoingBk2School

I am asthmatic I passed the peak flow ( lung capacity ) test. I'm afraid I cant tell you what I blew but from going to my GP I know I generally blow between 650-750. I dont know what the standard is.
Asthma will not stop you from entering the Gardai. So long as it is under control. And if it's under control you will have no problems with the test and you will probably blow more than a lot of the smokers!
Good luck!

quirkek2

Hi GoingBk2School,
Havn't done the medical yet myself, that's my next step but was chatting to my local sergeant as im an asthmatic myself. I only have very mild asthma and am fit and play sport every week like yourself too. He asked if I had ever been hospitalised for it. Basically as Haz says...as long as its under control and you're not out of breath when you run then you'll be fine im sure. As I said I have it too and im not worried about that part of it.
Hope this helps...

Paolo5

Did anyone who recently passed Stage 2 get a call yet for a medical or did you call yourself to see how things are moving?

Haz33

Paolo5 wrote: »

Did anyone who recently passed Stage 2 get a call yet for a medical or did you call yourself to see how things are moving?

Paolo. Whats the craic?
I rang today about PCT and was told they were not starting them again till june. This might be the case for the medicals too?

quirkek2

Paolo5 wrote: »

Did anyone who recently passed Stage 2 get a call yet for a medical or did you call yourself to see how things are moving?

Hi paolo, no i havn't rang them at all to find out. I only found out i passed the interview last week so wasn't expecting anything for the time being. Still have to meet the super yet.

picotto

Paolo5 wrote: »

Did anyone who recently passed Stage 2 get a call yet for a medical or did you call yourself to see how things are moving?

I rang yesterday and they said that medicals are on an ongoing basis, they also said they are still waiting on confirmation from the PAS that I passed my interview- I got the results three weeks ago

This may be what is holding up alot of our applications...:mad:

Paolo5

Cheers for the feedback. I might call meself so to see what the craic is.

As a by the way did anyone hear that a bleep fitness test was be introduced as part of the pct?

kaizersoze1980

No, where did you hear that?

ojewriej

Paolo5 wrote: »

As a by the way did anyone hear that a bleep fitness test was be introduced as part of the pct?

What is it?

Paolo5

I heard it from a guy currently training down there - it is by no means official word!

A basic bleep test is as follows:
It is set up as 2 cones about 15 metres apart.
There is a sound system that beeps and you start.
You have until the next beep to make to the other side.
You continue to run back and forth.
To start it is very slow but gets faster and faster.
It is a measure of fitness / endurance.
A group can do it together.
It is a killer as you are running til you physically cant any more.

Anyway as I said it is in no way official and just a rumour I heard for a student down there at the moment.

quirkek2

Paolo5 wrote: »

I heard it from a guy currently training down there - it is by no means official word!

A basic bleep test is as follows:
It is set up as 2 cones about 15 metres apart.
There is a sound system that beeps and you start.
You have until the next beep to make to the other side.
You continue to run back and forth.
To start it is very slow but gets faster and faster.
It is a measure of fitness / endurance.
A group can do it together.
It is a killer as you are running til you physically cant any more.

Anyway as I said it is in no way official and just a rumour I heard for a student down there at the moment.

Ah that's the one alright...my bad ... i was describing a running test which we used to call the suicide (not the nicest word to use i know). I got mixed up. We actually did the one you're talking about aswell though, i know what you mean, its a real killer after a while. That cone seems to get further and further away!!

shakin

the bleep test is done in levels,i did one a few years ago when i was fit and got level 11 which was ok i think theres is only a few more above that,didint hear it was introduced as part of pct, maybe its the pct that continues when your down there?

btw suicide is a f****n b***h!!!!! it kills ya!

blue2b

this section is soooo quiet. i can only presume that no medicals are currently on. they must be goin to wait till about 2 days befor the augst intake!!as usual.!!impossible to plan anythin with this waitin. afraid to go on hols incase i miss the phone call. cnt say much at work about quittin incase i fail med or dont make it till nov.... help!!!! cruel waitin this is.

quirkek2

blue2b wrote: »

this section is soooo quiet. i can only presume that no medicals are currently on. they must be goin to wait till about 2 days befor the augst intake!!as usual.!!impossible to plan anythin with this waitin. afraid to go on hols incase i miss the phone call. cnt say much at work about quittin incase i fail med or dont make it till nov.... help!!!! cruel waitin this is.

Tell me about it...they must be on hold for the time being. Got a call today to say im meeting my local inspector next week so that's something at least.

blue2b

any point in us reapplying to the campaign startin this wk.?

Haz33

blue2b wrote: »

any point in us reapplying to the campaign startin this wk.?

Did you apply in the Jan 08 round blue?

quirkek2

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

Im stuck here for a while!
Had a consultation this morning for eye surgery and I'm a suitable candidate for it, so its going ahead next Friday. After that I have to wait 6 weeks then give a report of my then perfect(hopefully!) vision to the medical officer, who will then give me a date for my PCT.

All my background checks are clear already so this time 7 weeks I will hopefully have a offer for August 6th

Best of luck tmw kaiser..hope the surgery goes well for you.

cpstears

Got a call today from HR today about 1100 or so got an appointment for a medical next wednesday morning. worrying begins again.

i've had my bmi tested in 3 places all coming in under 30 just hope they don't have a different scales or something