Reasons for rejection

Abstract

In the decade beginning 1st. January 1985, 916 individuals (including five females) were medically examined with a view to joining the wholetime service of Strathclyde Fire Brigade (SFB). One hundred and nine (11.9%), including two females, were rejected. The five main causes of failure were: ocular (n=46, 42.2%); lack of stamina (n=21, 19.2%); 'Others' (n=12, 11.0%); cardiovascular (n=9, 8.3%) and orthopaedic (n=6, 5.5%). Thirty-two had chest X-Rays. One abnormality was found - an azygous lobe - but it played no part in the decision to decline the applicant. There was little life- or health threatening pathology found. Most serious were murmurs consistent with mitral stenosis and regurgitation (one each), one ocular melanoma, four cases of hypertension and two with haematuria/proteinuria(++). This study shows that potentially serious findings can occasionally be detected in a population of 18 - 30 year olds which might be expected to be of better than average fitness, and that routine chest X-Rays are not helpful in the selection process.