Month: April 2022

Sharing vital signs – and saving lives – in real-time

Post author By Dennis
Post date April 29, 2022
No Comments on Sharing vital signs – and saving lives – in real-time

CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee You Jun, seen here during a break in one of his medical school electives in China, intends to continue advocating the use of technology to improve health outcomes.

Captain (Dr) (NS) Lee You Jun from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) draws on his interest in science and tech to help in cases of serious medical emergencies.

TEXT: KEENAN PEREIRA

PHOTOS: CPT (DR) (NS) LEE YOU JUN

A patient has just had a heart attack and is being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Paramedics monitor her situation in the ambulance, while the Emergency Room (ER) team at the hospital concurrently prepares the equipment and medication needed to save her life. Such real-time coordination is possible, thanks to advances in technology that have ushered in platforms like the Operational Medical Networks Informatics Integrator (OMNII).

OMNII was developed through a multi-agency partnership that included SCDF, Ministry of Health, and Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA). One of the SCDF personnel involved in the initiative was CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee You Jun, who completed his National Service in February 2022.

The chance to work on the project suited CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee, because he has been deeply interested in tech from an early age. “I remember playing games on a Gameboy or a Nokia phone,” the 27-year-old shared. “It was fascinating how much information could be stored on a small device. And look how far technology has come since.”

As a radiology resident with the National University Health System, CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee has a front-row view of the applications of these advances in the medical sector. “It’s an area where machine learning and artificial intelligence are increasingly coming into play, but because it’s medicine, there’s still a very human aspect to the work,” he explained.

He appreciated the broad nature of radiology, which means that he could be seeing a patient suffering from a brain haemorrhage, and right after that, a child with stomach pain. “It keeps the work fresh,” he said, adding that when he finishes his residency next year, he hopes to mentor future generations of radiologists.

A CHAMPION FOR DIGITAL HEALTH

CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee also plans to continue advocating the use of technology to improve health outcomes. “It allows medical professionals to better care for patients under their charge,” he elaborated, adding that OMNII is just one way of doing this. Launched in August 2021, the platform digitalises ambulance case records and integrates them with that of hospitals’ emergency departments.

Enabling such integration was a moment of pride for CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee. But he added that it was very much a team effort, with successive full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) taking on different roles. They supported SCDF regulars, as well as personnel from different agencies, to ensure the project’s successful launch.

CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee’s role was to oversee the implementation of OMNII and collect feedback from various stakeholders to improve its processes and features. “Being trained in medicine and having a bit of technological knowledge from my personal research allowed me to bridge the two worlds and move things along,” he says.

Now that he has completed his National Service, CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee has passed the baton of improving OMNII to his successor. As a medical professional, he continues to appreciate the value it brings to our healthcare system. “I’ve seen so many cases where every second counts,” he shares. “I’m proud to know that I had a part to play in making that improvement.”

SENSIBLE ADOPTION

Technology projects should be adopted with an eyes-wide-open approach, cautioned CPT (Dr) (NS) Lee. “One misconception is that technology only brings about positive changes to organisations. Ill-advised or poorly rationalised applications of technology can in fact create more problems than solutions, serve little purpose in helping our work, and waste resources,” he said.

“It’s important to always consider the potential issues that come with technology, and other alternatives when implementing any technology-related project. We need to address these, and make sure that we are taking a step forward with technology on our side. Only then can we bring about positive change to our organisations and society with technology.”

MOVING WITH TECH

Technology continues to be a part of CPT (Dr) (Ns) Lee’s life, both at work and in his personal life. He shared why science matters:

Solid outcomes: “While the inertia and barrier to technology adoption may be high, the returns in the long run are also high.”
Relevancy: “Integrating technology into our work and lives would help us to stay relevant in the future in this fast-evolving technological climate.”

Shape Up

Getting fit with your phone

Post author By Dennis
Post date April 28, 2022
No Comments on Getting fit with your phone

Smart devices can help you track your exercise programme and kickstart your fitness journey.

Screen time on your phone isn’t all about Netflix and social media – your phone can also help you become better, stronger and fitter. Here’s how.

TEXT: NICHOLAS TAN

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Our smartphones allow us to do just about anything and everything – from keeping in touch with loved ones to accessing any manner of content or information our minds can imagine.

For those in the know, our smartphones not only help us stay connected and catch up with the news; they’re also a great means to kickstart your fitness journey. Whether you’re an exercise newbie or fitspo veteran, mobile technology can give your workout plan a serious boost.

BUILDING YOUR FITNESS PLAN

If you’ve been telling your family and friends about how you’re “thinking about hiring a personal trainer”, you may consider starting off with your smartphone.

With access to a limitless database of fitness information online, understanding how to get started on (or enhance) your fitness regime has never been easier.

For one, your phone is a great way to research different exercises and workout programmes that suit your fitness profile – particularly useful to make the most of your time during lull periods in one’s day, like your daily commute. Apps can also be used to set fitness targets and construct plans to achieve them, while providing workout recommendations and health tips along the way.

Mr Afiq Syahmi, our Fitness Trainer at Fitness Workz, is partial to the Nike Training Club app as his fitness companion of choice.

“If you’re into fitness, then the Nike Training Club app is for you! The app has a user-friendly interface, and personalised workouts that make it suitable for anyone new to fitness or looking for something fun and new,” he explained.

The app grants access to more than 200 free workouts ranging from strength, endurance, yoga and mobility exercises that target your upper body, lower body and core muscles. Afiq notes that each workout can vary from five to 50 minutes, depending on your needs and lifestyle.

KEEPING YOU ON TRACK

While wearable fitness trackers like Fitbit or Garmin watches are all the rage, you don’t necessarily need to buy one, especially if you’re just starting out. Modern smartphones can easily act as a fitness tracker, given the right combination of apps.

These range from apps like Apple’s Health app which tracks general activity level, including metrics like steps and calories burnt, to specialised apps tailored to cyclists (Cyclemeter) and ones incorporating social networking elements (Nike Running).

Afiq adds that some apps can incentivise your workouts to give you that little extra push.

“Fitness apps like LumiHealth reward users with app credits and vouchers by participating in their in-app fitness challenges. These game-like challenges encourage the users to form healthy habits and stay motivated on their fitness journey,” he elaborated.

Such apps not only add a little more fun into your fitness experience, but also promote bonding through exercising with friends and family – all in order to push one another to greater heights.

BALANCING YOUR OVERALL WELLNESS

One important rule to live by: Exercise isn’t the be-all, end-all for those who are on a path towards living a balanced lifestyle.

Nutrition and sleep are two essential components to living an overall healthier life – both of which can be enhanced if you use your phone to track your progress.

There are a wide variety of phone apps that can be used to research, build and stick to diets, as well as track sleep quality and deliver recommendations to improve sleep for health benefits.

For instance, MyFitnessPal boasts comprehensive nutrition logging with an easy-to-use database offering nutritional information for millions of different foods. SleepCycle tracks your quality of sleep and sleep patterns, and wakes you up during your lightest sleep phase every morning – ensuring you always start your days well-rested and ready to get moving!

USING TECH THE RIGHT WAY

While there may be a lot your phone can do for you when it comes to levelling up your health, technology will only get you so far.

“While many fitness apps grant a quick fix for the public, few can curate workout programmes that cater to their individual fitness levels and needs. It’s also possible for users to overly rely on fitness apps’ default fitness programmes, neglecting their capabilities and safety in the gym,” advised Afiq.

He goes on to suggest that personal trainers are a great way to bridge these gaps, since they can provide real-time feedback and make quick adjustments to ensure that safety is not compromised.

Of course, he believes that it shouldn’t be a choice between one or the other – personal trainers and technology can go hand-in-hand to keep you on track with your fitness journey.

“Managing multiple members at once can be challenging because the sessions are back-to-back most of the time. Personal trainers must review members’ progress within a limited timeframe before a new session begins. As a personal trainer, I can efficiently track a member’s progress and plan the upcoming personal training session with the fitness app,” he explained.

“Our members can review their progress through the fitness app and inquire via the in-app messager. Fitness apps help streamline the process, and I can focus on curating more personalised programmes,” he added.

At the end of the day, whichever method you adopt, the most important principle in fitness is to stay focused and be consistent. Drawing up a plan, establishing clear goals, and maintaining diligence are the key ingredients to achieving better fitness overtime. Apps and personal trainers will guide you along the path to success, but you must ultimately walk that path with your own two feet.

New to the scene? Try kickstarting your fitness journey with a trusty partner or a friend to push each other to greater fitness heights.

On The Edge Featured

How to protect your privacy online – and why that matters

Post author By Dennis
Post date April 28, 2022
No Comments on How to protect your privacy online – and why that matters

Failing to protect your digital privacy can lead to a host of issues, from identity theft to your accounts being hacked.

Ever wondered how much personal information you’ve revealed online? Here’s why it’s best to keep your digital life private.

TEXT: MELODY TAN

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

In the age where every Google search inevitably results in customised ads showing up on your screen, and social media platforms suggest friends of friends to follow, it’s understandable why many people give up on digital privacy. After all, why bother when the Internet already knows so much about you (and all the cat videos you watch)?

In reality, we should all be doing our best to maintain our digital privacy. More than just having your embarrassing social media photos shared in public, a lack of digital privacy can have far-reaching consequences.

For example, password leaks and hacks can lead to your accounts being hijacked. Even if your passwords are safe, your identity may not be: If your full name and IC number are retrieved by a malicious actor, they can be used to apply for credit cards or loans, or even commit fraud at medical institutions. In some cases, the victim might not even be aware that their accounts or information have been compromised until they attempt to log in or are notified by the authorities.

Here are six ways to keep your personal information safe from potential breach.

1. CHECK YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS

It’s good practice to check on the privacy settings of your social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If your profiles are set to public, it’s easy for people to scrape data from them and learn far more about you than you want them to – for example, the times and days you’re most often at work or the gym (so they can break into your home).

You should also turn off any location tagging functions. If you frequently tag your neighbourhood as your location, it’s not difficult for someone to ascertain which block or house you might live in. This could be based on landmarks or other recognisable features in the background. Besides making it easier for stalkers, this information might assist impersonators pretending to be you online in order to scam your friends.

2. YOUR PASSWORD STATUS: IT’S COMPLICATED

The more complex and unique your password, the better. These days, many websites and platforms will ask for a password that contains a combination of capital and small letters, numbers, and sometimes even special symbols.

Don’t be tempted to use your favourite go-to password or your child’s name, just because they’re easy to remember. Old passwords – especially if used repeatedly across multiple accounts – are more likely to have been leaked or hacked at some point. And you don’t want your leaked email password to also helpfully unlock your Facebook, Instagram, Shopee and SingPass accounts for the hackers. Remember, names of family members and pets are often shared on social media which makes them easy to guess as passwords.

3. DON’T REMEMBER PASSWORDS, MANAGE THEM

Instead of putting your memory skills to the test, you can use password manager software – such as Apple’s strong password generator – to create and remember long, complex passwords that are unlocked with one master password.

A password manager also allows you to disable the save password feature in your Internet browser. When you allow your browser to save passwords, you also enable anyone who has access to your device – whether physically or remotely – to view the saved passwords. In comparison, even the companies running the password manager software won’t know what your stored passwords are.

4. STAY UNDER THE RADAR

Similarly, you should clear your browser’s cache regularly, in case any sensitive information is stored there – making it easy pickings for a hacker.

If you aren’t a fan of targeted ads, or you simply feel uncomfortable with the fact that many websites sell your collected data to third parties, you can consider anonymous search engines. Your search topics and results won’t be recorded or tracked, helping you to minimise your digital footprint.

Use different email addresses for signing up to different accounts, so that if one gets hacked or compromised, your other accounts won’t be affected. Don’t worry about having to check multiple email inboxes: You can implement automatic forwarding to the inbox you use most.

5. ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Two-factor authentication – known as 2FA – offers an additional layer of security when you’re logging in to an account. You might have seen it on your Internet banking app, or on your Gmail account.

If you haven’t enabled it yet, make sure to do so. By asking you to confirm your identity after you input your password – usually through the generation of a unique, time-sensitive one-time password sent to your phone – the 2FA process safeguards your account and the personal information within.

6. DON’T FORGET ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Finally, a piece of advice that’s been around since the ’90s, but is still deeply relevant today: Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your desktop or laptop. No matter how careful you are in your digital activities, you won’t be able to evade all malware or malicious online actors.

Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses, spyware, malware and more. It can block spam, prevent loss of your personal information, scan dubious devices and files and most importantly, offer you greater peace of mind when it comes to your digital privacy.

In this digital age, it’s important to be aware of the types of online crime that may surface, be they on social media or websites. Here’s how you can prevent yourself from falling victim to cybercrimes and phishing scams.

In The Force

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Mission: The Home Team Volunteer Network

Post author By Dennis
Post date April 28, 2022
No Comments on Ordinary People, Extraordinary Mission: The Home Team Volunteer Network

Want to volunteer with the Home Team but don’t know which scheme suits you? Here’s how you can find out the best way you can give back.

TEXT AND PHOTOS: MHA

If you feel that it’s time to pay it forward, volunteering with the Home Team is one way to make a difference. Each Home Team Agency plays a unique role and several volunteer schemes are available.

From fighting crime and fires to educating the public and befriending offenders and ex-offenders, there are many ways you can help. The Home Team Volunteer Network (HTVN) welcomes passionate, dedicated individuals who want to do their part.

HELPING YOU TO HELP US

If you are unsure which volunteer scheme to sign up for, head to the HTVN website and enter your details on the page. We will analyse your responses and recommend suitable schemes based on your stated demographics, skills and interests, as well as the Home Team Agency you wish to contribute to.

There are five Home Team Agencies to choose from:

Singapore Police Force
Singapore Civil Defence Force
Singapore Prison Service
Central Narcotics Bureau
Yellow Ribbon Singapore

and skills and interests which include (but are not limited to):

Befriending
Firefighting
Lifesaving, and many more!

Visit HTVN’s website now to find out which volunteer scheme suits you best and be part of the HTVN family!

Visit mha.gov.sg/volunteers and volunteer.gov.sg/mha for more information about their volunteer schemes or connect with the Home Team Volunteer Network on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

Club Buzz

An unforgettable Sea-nic getaway

Post author By Dennis
Post date April 28, 2022
No Comments on An unforgettable Sea-nic getaway

Mr Sim Joo Jin enjoying the sun and sea with his wife and son. Photo: Sim Joo Jin

HomeTeamNS members and their loved ones celebrated Valentine’s Day on the high seas.

TEXT: ADLINA ADAM

PHOTOS: CLAIRE GAN, SIM JOO JIN, & CHENG CHEE WEE

From 14 to 17 February 2022, HomeTeamNS members and their families boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere for a long-awaited and well-deserved vacation. The members had a fun and relaxing time as they enjoyed a variety of activities, from rock-climbing and bumper cars rides to live performances. Another 4D3N cruise set sail on 14 March 2022.

HomeTeamNS members — Mr Sim Joo Jin, Ms Claire Gan and Mr Cheng Chee Wee — share their getaway memories with Frontline.

GOING BACK TO THE HIGH SEAS

As the COVID-19 restrictions on travel eased up, members were ready to pack their bags and soak in some Vitamin-sea.

HomeTeamNS member Ms Claire Gan and her family usually went on annual overseas trips before the pandemic struck. Although this cruise sailed within Singapore waters, she felt that it was the next best thing. “It felt really liberating to pack for a trip, carry our luggage and go through Immigration,” she said.

A VACATION TO REMEMBER

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The Sea-nic Getaway was more than just a cruise to nowhere. Many HomeTeamNS members celebrated significant milestones and anniversaries during the trip. Mr Cheng Chee Wee and his wife commemorated the 20th anniversary of their first Valentine Day’s date. On that first outing, he had taken her on a two-hour cruise around Singapore. This time, he extended the date to a three-day cruise.

For Mr Sim Joo Jin, besides celebrating their love, the cruise was an opportunity to announce his wife’s pregnancy with their second baby to his friends.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART

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The Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas offers exciting activities and facilities from stem to stern. From live performances to all-weather entertainment, there was something for every age group.

While Mr Sim buckled up and took the bumper cars for a spin, Mr Cheng enjoyed a dip in the Solarium pool with his wife. Ms Gan went head-to-head with her family in a game of Pickleball at Seaplex, the largest indoor active space at sea.

After a fruitful day, the holidaymakers unwound with dazzling performances and shows such as Sequins & Feathers, and other original Royal Caribbean productions featuring contemporary dances, headline musical acts, high diving, aerial acrobatics and more.

ONWARD WITH MORE HOMETEAMNS EVENTS

For the members, the cruise sparked memories of previous HomeTeamNS events that they have attended. Among these was the Family Day at Universal Studios Singapore (USS) in 2019 where the entire theme park was booked for HomeTeamNS members and their families.

One of Ms Gan’s fondest memories occurred when all the members gathered at the Water World theatre and did a Kallang Wave together.

“What I enjoy is the kampung spirit where you can engage in family activities and bump into our Home Team friends in an exclusive members-only event,” says Mr Cheng.

HomeTeamNS members can keep their eyes peeled for the latest updates on the next exclusive event with Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas Cruise on HomeTeamNS’ Facebook Page or website.

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