25 Years of SCDF Emergency Medical Services
B EY O N D T H E
R U MB LE S
R U MB LE S & S IR E NS
S IR E NS
B E Y O N D T H E R U M B L E S & S I R E NS
25 Years of SCDF Emergency Medical Services
B E Y O N D T H E
R UMB L E S & S IR E NS
CONTENTS
1.
Commissioner’s Message
2.
Foreword
3.
EMS Milestones
12
4.
Prologue
32
5.
Our Stories
i.
Tragic Car Crash
44
ii.
Medical Height Rescue
48
iii.
An Accidental Tragedy
53
iv.
"Flower Water" Incident
56
v.
A Twist of Fate
61
vi.
Gunshot Incident at Shangri-La
66
vii. Little India Riot – The Untold Story
69
viii. Managing A Mass Casualty Incident at Joo Koon MRT Station
73
ix.
Cardiac Arrest Rescue With The Chief Medical Officer
76
x.
Mass Casualty Incident at AYE Towards Tuas
79
xi.
Oil Rig Rescue
82
xii. Pandemic Experiences (from SARS to COVID-19)
86
6.
Epilogue
92
7.
Acknowledgements
94
COMMISSIONER’S
MESSAGE
COMMISSIONER’S
MESSAGE
Prehospital
emergency
ambulance
services have a rich history in Singapore dating
back to the 1960s. Led then by registered
nurses from the Ministry of Health and staffed
by healthcare attendants and drivers, the
emergency ambulance services played a critical
role in responding to emergencies in Singapore.
1996 was the beginning of a new chapter
in the provision of emergency ambulance
services when SCDF launched the Paramedic
Scheme. Gradually, paramedics would replace
the registered nurses or ambulance officers
as they were referred to back then. With the
introduction of SCDF paramedics, full-time
National Servicemen (NSF) serving as medics
and senior ambulance medical orderlies driving
the ambulances, this transformation ushered
in a new era of Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) as we know it today.
Our focus on three key drivers has kept
SCDF’s EMS current and relevant over the last
25 years and we believe, for the years ahead.
Firstly, our people, our strongest asset.
The focus on our people has transformed
SCDF’s EMS by leaps and bounds where a highly
trained paramedic, along with an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT) trained NSF and a
regular fire-trained EMT driving the ambulance,
forms each EMS crew in providing critical
interventions to life threatening medical and
trauma emergencies. Today, SCDF’s EMS has
grown into a modern, professional, effective
and well-respected service providing the
highest standards of pre-hospital medical care
to the public. This growth and transformation
over the last 25 years would not have been
possible without the unwavering commitment,
dedication and passion of our officers, both
past and present.
Secondly, the emphasis on a realistic
training
curriculum
coupled
with
skills
upgrading and continuing training has ensured
that our EMS personnel are updated with the
latest knowledge and skills in prehospital
emergency care. Our EMS crews are also
trained to respond to highly dynamic and
complex operations, such as a mass casualty
incident and a chemical, biological, radiological
(CBR) incident. More recently, SCDF launched
the Paramedic Senior Officer (PSO) Scheme.
The
PSO
underscores
SCDF’s
continual
efforts in transforming SCDF’s EMS to meet
the increasing EMS demands and to further
enhance our professionalism in managing
more complex frontline operations. PSOs
will also be groomed as leaders to drive EMS
education, research, as well as operational and
clinical excellence within SCDF. This, coupled
Beyond the Rumbles & Sirens
with the establishment of the SCDF’s National
EMS Training Centre at the Civil Defence
Academy, will enable SCDF to be the leader in
Paramedicine.
Thirdly,
leveraging
innovation
and
technological
advances
have
been
instrumental in shaping SCDF’s EMS. For
example, the present ambulance, in its seventh
generation, reflects the innovative SCDF
spirit. Besides new features such as the in-
built self-decontaminating system, ergonomic
interior design, and smart charging system
using solar energy, SCDF’s latest generation
of ambulances symbolise an organisation
that is modern and forward-looking. Another
example is the Operational Medical Networks
Informatics Integrator (OMNII). This system
allows for real-time data-sharing between
SCDF’s Operations Centre, SCDF’s EMS and
hospital Emergency Departments (ED). With
real-time onsite information about the patient
being relayed by SCDF paramedics, the
emergency physician and trauma surgeon at
the ED can prepare a resuscitation plan before
the patient arrives. This effectively reduces the
“door-to-treatment” time and preserves the
“golden hour” for better patient outcomes.
The
past
25
years
of
EMS
transformation have been significant and
deserving of celebration. The title of this
EMS Commemorative Publication, Beyond
the Rumbles and Sirens: 25 Years of SCDF
Emergency Medical Services, aptly captures
the hard work, devotion and sacrifices of the
EMS personnel. This publication chronicles the
key milestones and how formidable challenges
such as SARS and COVID-19 pandemics
were overcome with hard work, grit, and
perseverance. This publication also includes
many heart-warming personal accounts by our
EMS personnel that bring to life the values,
aspirations and beliefs of our EMS personnel
over the decades.
Going
forward,
strategic
forward-
thinking and the unwavering commitment of
our EMS personnel will ensure that SCDF EMS
is on firm footing to deal with new challenges
such as that of an ageing population. I hope
this commemorative publication specially put
together by our paramedics, will inspire present
and future generations of EMS to fly the SCDF
flag high as we continue with our noble mission
of protecting and saving lives and property for
a safer Singapore.
Eric Yap
Commissioner
Singapore Civil Defence Force
Beyond the Rumbles & Sirens
continual improvement to provide the best
possible care can be achieved by fostering a
culture of growth mindset and inculcating an
attitude of lifelong learning among our EMS
community.
In the course of producing this publication,
our nation has entered the third year of its
fight against the global COVID-19 coronavirus
disease. Notwithstanding the adversity, it is
gratifying to note that the EMS community
has remained resilient and steadfast in its life-
saving mission throughout the pandemic and
never wavered in serving the community with
the best possible care and compassion.
Like the passing of the baton in a relay
race, so too are the stories and testimonies this
publication passed on to the present generation
of SCDF EMS personnel, and generations to
come. Let it inspire us and renew within the
fraternity the deep sense of conviction, courage
and commitment as we strive on with our life-
saving mission!
Senior Assistant Commissioner
Yong Meng Wah
Director, Emergency Medical Services
Department
Singapore Civil Defence Force
FOREWORD
This year marks the 25th anniversary of
the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) within
the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). It is
thus fitting that we have this commemorative
publication to chronicle the key milestones
and development of the SCDF EMS over the
decades. Since the launch of the Paramedic
Scheme in 1996, the SCDF EMS has garnered
numerous achievements and accolades in
this transformative journey. From its humble
beginnings with about 30 ambulances to serve
the whole of Singapore in the 1990s, the SCDF
EMS has transformed into a modern and highly
professional service with an ambulance fleet
that has more than tripled in numbers.
The SCDF ambulance is now led by a
Paramedic crew leader and assisted by well-
trained
Emergency
Medical
Technicians
(EMTs). The SCDF EMS is also equipped with
the latest technologies that allow for a more
comprehensive
operational
response
to
medical and trauma incidents. We certainly
have a lot to be proud of.
While we have made significant progress
since the inception of the EMS, training remains
a cornerstone to ensure continued growth and
development for both current and aspiring
EMS personnel. To grow a community of highly
skilled and caring service professionals, the
SCDF EMS will need to constantly embrace
upskilling and continuous learning, while not
losing sight of our foremost mission – to care
for our people and those we serve – in the
pre-hospital emergency environment. This
Beyond the Rumbles & Sirens