Breathing Strategies for the CPAT.

[@icedouterik]

If you are watching this video before taking the cpat… yes it does work… yes I passed (on my third try) after watching this video. Most important part breath through your nose as much as you can so your lungs get comfortable with less oxygen. LEGS LEGS LEGS If you have a stair climber at the gym I suggest if you have no weight vest stay on it as long as you can until your legs are toast to get that feeling. Same if you have a weighted vest until you can barely feel them. Dumby drag I put 165 pounds on my duffel bag and drug it through the yard multiple times back and fourth. Good luck guys and girls. Don’t feel defeated just use that to push harder.

[@vugibson]

I found that the suggestions made me feel better during a test. I strongly suggest working with a weight vest and practicing these breathing tips (nasal breathing) during physical preparation for the test. Also agree, simulating the dummy drag is a great exercise in preparation for the test.

[@JesseCoomer]

This was so much fun to do!! Thanks for having me!! Good luck to everyone who is about to take the CPAT!!

[@vugibson]

It was a fun day of shooting and very interesting to learn.

[@Striker744]

Thanks Sir! My first impression of watching you take the CPAT was like this guy is not struggling at all. It felt like a day at the park for you. When you finished, and said that nasal breathing will help accomplish that, I started doing your 10 minutes walking and breathing through the nose and practicing on the stairmaster breathing through the nose. On the stairmaster, on a 5 counts breathing in through the nose and 5 or 6 counts breathing out through the nose, I feel like I don't have enough air and have to lower my count. When I lower the count, I feel like having to take another breath in before breathing out and that throws my breathing rhythm into chaos and it is a struggle towards the end because I am huffing and puffing like you said. The vest also constrict belly breathing. Any advice on how to maintain an even and balanced breathing and not feel like we need to take an extra breath in? Thanks for all the tips.

[@djfatin]

@jessecoomer hello! I take my first practice for FDNY tomorrow and my final/last chance is in early September. Your video will help me keep grounded as I think breathing struggles definitely throw me off. I was hoping you would address the hose drag option to sprint. I saw that you didn't and saw in another video that the recommendation is not to sprint to reserve your energy. Would you agree? Thanks so much 🙏🏽

[@vugibson]

@@djfatin I'll let @jessecoomer provide his breathing recommendations for that part of the test. Our response - Regarding running/jogging during the hose drag, we have a suggestion based on our observations: if you were worn out by Event 1 (legs are jelly/out of breath), we suggest not running during the hose drag portion; instead, while still moving as fast as you can, try and use that time to recharge and recover from the trauma of the stair mill (let your legs rest and return to solid form; try and get your breathing under control). Where have we noticed problems: when candidates who had trouble with the Mill and who chose to run/sprint during the hose drag. When this happens, candidates have tended to be out of breath by the time they reach Event 3; at this point, they are done. If you did not find the Stair Mill event tiring, then do what you want during the hose drag. If a candidate does not find the Mill challenging at all, the rest of the test should be easy. I'm sure Professor Coomer will respond directly soon. We have greatly appreciated his tips during this video, as we have had several department training officer tell us that they have recommended it to anyone pursuing the CPAT. Good luck with your upcoming test. Let us know how it went.

[@djfatin]

@@vugibson this is so helpful! Thank you so much 🥹 I hope I will have good news tomorrow or at least by September 5th 🙏🏽

[@DONTDAREMEDUDEILLDOITDUDE]

I'll add my tid bit. As everyone else has said, this tremendously helped me. I took my CPAT today and I made a huge effort to focus on my breathing. I would have easily struggled without finding this video. HOWEVER, at the end of the day the CPAT comes down to not giving up. Every tip and trick out there can help but it's truly about NOT FUCKING QUITTING. If you're reading this, you got this! Don't fucking quit. Keep your breath. Keep your wits. Embrace the suck. It's only 10 minutes. That's it.

[@jmscbe]

Make sure you get a good meal in, and lots of water. Most of us take it in the morning, and fasting may seem like the right thing to stay light on your feet. Trust me, this screwed me during one of my practice runs. Good nights rest, solid breakfast, lots of water. Good luck everyone! 👊🏼💪🏼

[@survivalofthefittest351]

same i didnt eat or drink before hand and i regret it

[@tommyc6720]

Same here. I had a Clif bar, drank coffee, and then had a bottle of water. I tanked out during the dummy drag but was able to get to the ceiling breach. With just one last set left I failed because I stepped out of bounds twice due to low energy and being super dehydrated. I learned that lesson. I have my cpat scheduled for tomorrow 🤞

[@vugibson]

@tommyc6720 Good luck tomorrow

[@tommyc6720]

@@vugibson thank you! I'm much better prepared for tomorrow's test than I was the last time I took it. Your videos have given me a lot of great training tips and pointers to keep in mind.

[@vugibson]

Glad they were of some help. Again, good luck. Let us know how it went

[@josephizbicki261]

I finished my test minutes ago and felt this helped me push through half way through the test. If I would not have controlled my breathing my pace would have slowed tremendously

[@vugibson]

Glad the video was of assistance. Congratulations on your test.

[@brandonfix7190]

He has really good points on how to help you breathe through the course. Breathing the right way makes a big difference on the course.

[@CNewlin315]

This video helped me a ton. Use every tip this guy gives and you will pass this with almost no trouble at all!!

[@vugibson]

Test improvement was impressive. Great job.

[@jdee928]

Holy crap, this works!!! There's a fire cadet program where I live and we do a skills course that mimics a lot of the firefighter workouts (climbing stairs, ladder extension, sledgehammer, pulling a tire, running with hose and pulling it in, etc.) and I was always so out of breath carrying tools up the 5 flights of stairs. Well, I just tried the breathing technique at home going up and down my stairs and I just can't believe that it comes down to breathing!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! **Slowly preparing for the CPAT.

[@vugibson]

Glad to hear that it was useful to you. Good luck in your continued preparation and training.

[@jonlayman6790]

PASSED today!! Thank you guys so much for the videos having prior knowledge definitely made the difference for me. Hardest part for me was the dummy drag.

[@vugibson]

Congratulations, sir. Delighted to be of assistance. Good luck moving forward.

[@TRex31c]

Great video. Really helped out a lot. Especially on the stairs. Kept me staying focused on my breathing instead of the pain in my legs. Just like you said you feel shorter of breath, but my muscles weren’t burning out like my practices while huffing and puffing through my mouth.

[@vugibson]

Congratulations on your the passed test. Just curious: in which state did you pass?

[@slowbrew1]

I have my test in 11 days. My biggest fear is not having control over my breathing. I’ve been able to do 3:20 with 80 lbs, but that last minute really gets me. Hope this helps me, I’ll try today at the gym!

[@vugibson]

If you want to pose any questions, you can email [e-mail].

[@TNAgaming150]

Just walk with the hose after the climb Brother. You’ll still Pass. Promise if you walk with the house and catch your breath and just stay calm don’t get to excited take your breaths and hydrate the night before is very important we hydrate the day before!!! Not the day of

[@paytonbushue6533]

This video helped me through the stairs so much. I was trying to get Hurry up and get to the next step without a rhythm and was stumbling on the next step. I remembered the breathing exercises and it gave me my rhythm and helped me keep on the right track of the next step(plus it helped with the rest of the course because I wasn't so winded for the rest of the course).

[@vugibson]

Glad the video was helpful. Great job on the test performance.

[@beauoneal5067]

I just recently passed at this facility using some most of this breathing techniques. Thank you so much on this information!

[@vugibson]

Glad it was helpful.

[@joshsatchell6150]

This video help me tremendously with taking my CPAT at this facility. Thank you for the advice with the breathing. It helped a lot!

[@vugibson]

Great job on the test; great determination. Good luck moving forward.

[@kaysaflemkjoli6829]

Just passed the CPAT and these breathing tips genuinely helped me so much thank you so much:)

[@vugibson]

Congratulations on your test. We are happy to have been of help. What was your passing time (if they told you)?

[@marteljohnson3866]

This was a great process and loved every minute of it. I used the breathing techniques throughout the entire process and it really helped throughout it. 10/10 would recommend to anybody looking to do a CPAT.

[@vugibson]

Your test performance was fantastic. If you have to take the test again, definitely could be in position to beat the facility record. Good luck moving forward.

[@jacobkeyser2049]

Great breathing technique. Failed the first time. Then watched and practiced the breathing techniques and made it the next time.

[@vugibson]

Happy that it helped. Congratulations.

[@Caseyjones94573]

How long between test did you have?

[@eastnjman368]

Gonna take my CPAT in a few hrs thanks for the info

[@vugibson]

Good luck.

[@eastnjman368]

@@vugibson passed with flying colors

[@vugibson]

@@eastnjman368 Congratulations and well done. Just curious: at which facility did you pass?

[@eastnjman368]

@@vugibson Meriden Connecticut

[@vugibson]

@@eastnjman368 Interesting. Thanks for the feedback and again, congratulations on the test performance and good luck moving forward.

[@Fisherman1415]

This really helped me a lot passi g my test. Amazing facility.

[@vugibson]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for the feedback.

[@aidanozbay3504]

This really helps I’m training for the CPAT in Virginia that’s coming up soon but the vest is tight and I have been trying to train on my breathing when doing the stair climb, I’ve been super stressed because being a fire fighter is my dream job and I want to do everything I can to pass, thanks for the video

[@vugibson]

Glad you found the video helpful. Let us know how your test goes. Good luck.

[@cmjenk1]

You got this

[@vugibson]

How did the the test go?

[@ARCoventry]

J took my cpat for Athens Clarke County Georgia and passed! First step in the process so haven’t gotten a job yet but this video and info helped a ton! On my way in the building a firefighter was leaving and told me “good luck, focus on your breathing” I told him “thanks” and immediately thought it’s a good thing I’d been doing breath work. Had 8 min 20 sec to pass, I completed in 7:38. Ofc I did a lot of other training too, but this was sooo helpful. Lots of appreciation for Coomer and Vincennes. Good luck guys! Train harder than the test and you’ll pass!

[@vugibson]

Thanks for the feedback on the videos and congratulations on your test performance. Well done.

[@lancecoffman8210]

This helped me find a better breathing technique for the stairs. Very helpful!

[@vugibson]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad it was helpful. Good luck with your job application.

[@wyattgriskey1500]

Great video! Definitely helped in finishing the second half of the test working through fatigue.

[@vugibson]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad that you found the content useful.

[@dripskee6443]

I did this when I took my firefighter one and 2, was different though as we had to wear full turnout, SCBA and had to ensure we didn't run out of air. They called it the challenge as you also had to really hustle it as it was timed.

[@gabrielsewell7296]

2 different test

[@dripskee6443]

@@gabrielsewell7296 is it? right on, it's been about 10 years so i'm out the loop lol

[@JohnJohn-tx5qn]

This really helped me pass my cpat!!

[@vugibson]

Glad the video was helpful. It was a fun video to create. Good luck.

[@indigospringsfarm]

Great information. Thank you!

[@vugibson]

Glad you liked it.

[@vugibson]

How did the test go?

[@MrBrosborne]

Great video. Helped me pass first try.

[@vugibson]

Glad it helped! Thank you very much for the feedback.

[@justindeanelive7597]

One week until my test. I'm running and working out everyday. Nervous but excited

[@vugibson]

Let us know how it went.

[@nickpruett3311]

Great video! I have the CPAT on June 9th here in SoCal. I'm going to practice these breathing techniques everyday while resting and exercising and will let you know when I pass.

[@vugibson]

Good luck and let us know when you pass.

[@cjks3279]

@Nick Pruett, I actually have my CPAT on the same day, but in Northern CA. I'm going to do the same, practicing these techniques everyday both while resting and exercising. Hope all goes well!!

[@vugibson]

@@cjks3279 Good Luck in your prep and let us know the result.

[@cjks3279]

@@vugibson Thank you, I will!

[@cjks3279]

@@vugibson Thanks for the support! I took the test and felt noticeably helped by this breathing technique. I will continue to use this technique in my daily workouts! Thanks for all you do to help people prepare for the CPAT. It is much appreciated!

[@jordanevans3735]

Great help

[@vugibson]

Thank you for the response. We have gotten great feedback on this video.

[@el_sancho935]

How about breathing for running

[@Elspeasador]

This is great

[@vugibson]

Glad it was helpful.

[@user-ub8ll3ko4f]

I am thinking about applying for the department in my home town. This video was very helpful. I am only concerned about the search maze. I am 6'3 275, and am wondering if I will fit through some of the spaces ha!

[@vugibson]

The biggest guy to pass at our facility was 6'4", 335 pounds. The day he passed, he went through the maze like a squirrel. He trained very hard and did a great job

[@ffholmes6431]

My test is on Monday I’m ready

[@vugibson]

Good luck on Monday - let us know the result.

[@Chris874]

i got my cpat tommorow wish me luckk

[@vugibson]

Good luck - let us know how it went.

[@Fonz0]

Used your breathing tips my brother. I did it yesterday and had 2 minutes left

[@vugibson]

Congratulations. Very happy that the information was useful.

[@Fonz0]

@@vugibson thank YOU

[@vugibson]

@@Fonz0 Just curious: in which state did you test?

[@Fonz0]

@@vugibson took it for the Austin Texas FD

[@vugibson]

@@Fonz0 Ok. Again, congratulations and good luck.

[@BillBocephus]

Going into this with a deviated septum… haven’t been able to nasal breathe for 10 years, wish me luck 😅

[@vugibson]

Good luck - let us know how it went.

[@antoniocostage3116]

This is was very awesome to do unfortunately I ate a candy bar before this SO STUIPD I couldn’t breath first time doing it missed it by 30 seconds.

[@vugibson]

Make sure your walking speed between events is around 18-20 seconds. This should put you on pace to pass. Good luck next attempt.

[@cmjenk1]

Hey I have a question do I have to cut my dreads before I take the cpat

[@vugibson]

I would ask the supervising staff at the facility where you are going to test. At our facility, as long as a candidate could secure the helmet properly, we would allow the candidate to test.

[@vladdracula8014]

I may need a bit of help.

[@vugibson]

You need help with what?

[@vladdracula8014]

@@vugibson I struggle with my breathing even while doing a heavy work out day.

[@vugibson]

Send your contact info to [e-mail]

[@280StJohnsPl]

What a joke.....physical standards should be made harder, not easier

[@dirtychai5245]

IMO Randy is harder to move than you lol

[@vugibson]

Event 7 is consistently rated as the second hardest on the test.

[@fdpipemen]

I took this test a week ago and I failed.I take it again in a few weeks I’ll be using theses techniques

[@vugibson]

Good luck on the retest - we have gotten very good feedback on these suggestions.

[@fdpipemen]

I’m happy to say I passed the cpat today using this technique it works