Our Role Model: A Father’s Day Special
This father, also a Citizens on Patrol volunteer shares why it’s important to be a role model for his children.
This father, also a Citizens on Patrol volunteer shares why it’s important to be a role model for his children.
This team of PNSmen used their first aid training and teamwork to make a crucial difference during their in-camp training.
Visiting the gym is as much about building mental resilience as it is about gaining muscle for (CLT) Mohammad Shafie.
A harrowing encounter turned SGT1 (NS) Muhammad Zainal Abidin from reluctant National Serviceman to passionate fire and rescue specialist at SCDF’s Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit. TEXT & PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE Like many other Singaporean males, SGT1 (NS) Muhammad Zainal Abidin enlisted for National Service (NS) when he was 18. “Initially, I did not see the importance of serving NS — and I must admit that I was not the most enthusiastic in training,” says Zainal, 30, recalling his experience as a full-time National Serviceman (NSF) with SCDF. But SGT1 (NS) Zainal then experienced a turning point that would shape a life-long passion. “One day, my fire station crew and I were instructed to help out during a suicide attempt,” he recounts. “When we arrived at the scene, we were tasked to set up the life pack as quickly as we could. As I was not very serious during my training, I struggled to keep up with my colleagues when handling the equipment. Yet there I was, caught in a situation where a life was at stake. Fortunately, it was a team effort and my personal shortcomings did not adversely affect the operations.” Realising that he could have done more to support his team, SGT1 (NS) Zainal resolved to focus on his NS training and learn as much as possible from veteran SCDF career officers. “After the incident, I realised how self-centred and immature I was,” concedes SGT1 (NS) Zainal. “I decided to put in my utmost effort to do my best in NS. Ever since then, my passion for saving lives has continued to grow.” After completing his full-time NS stint in 2014, SGT1 (NS) Zainal went on to work as a technician and obtained a diploma in aerospace engineering. He is currently pursuing a degree in psychology. Over the years, he has developed a passion for lifesaving, which led him to join the SCDF’s Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit (CDAU) as a fire and rescue specialist at Bishan Fire Station. “Joining the CDAU was a great milestone in my life. Lifesaving is a noble endeavour and I believe this is something that my son will be proud of,” asserts the father of a 6-year-old. FIGHTING THE PULAU BUSING INFERNO His son would certainly be able to regale friends with tales of his father’s heroic acts. On the evening of 20 March 2018, SGT1 (NS) Zainal and his crew were alerted to an oil storage tank fire at Pulau Busing. From where he stood, kilometres away from the island off Singapore’s southwestern coast, SGT1 (NS) Zainal could see raging fire and clouds of thick black smoke. SCDF personnel fighting the oil storage tank fire at Pulau Busing. “The fire was burning on a massive scale when we approached the site in our fire engines onboard a vessel,” says SGT1 (NS) Zainal. “This reminded me of the stories that some SCDF career officers shared from their experience fighting a pumphouse fire at Pulau Bukom years ago. The Bukom pumphouse fire was so intense that one of our emergency appliances was partially burnt.” Bearing that in mind when setting up the ground monitor this time round, SGT1 (NS) Zainal was careful to maintain a safe distance from the raging fire and constantly check on the wind direction to ensure safety. A total of 31 firefighting and support vehicles, 128 SCDF personnel and Company Emergency Response Team members along with the Police Coast Guard, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Republic of Singapore Navy and the National Environment Agency were involved in the highly challenging six-hour operation at Pulau Busing. “When the Pulau Busing fire was ultimately extinguished around midnight, my crew and I had to stay behind to monitor the site until 8am the next morning,” notes SGT1 (NS) Zainal. “As there were about five of us in my section, we took turns to monitor the site every two hours to ensure that the area remained safe. Such precautions are necessary because re-ignition can happen in oil storage tank fires.” Despite the lack of sleep after the arduous firefighting mission, SGT1 (NS) Zainal managed to stay alert during the long hours of standby duty. “What I have learnt from my experiences as an NSF and a CDAU officer, is that we must never take Singapore’s safety for granted,” he cautions. “Every time I put on my firefighting bunker gear and lift the rescue equipment, I am carrying not just a heavy physical load but also the weight of responsibility.” Today, SGT1 (NS) Zainal passionately imparts his rescue and firefighting knowledge and skills to NSFs at Bishan Fire Station. He always reminds them to take their NS seriously – they are, after all, young men entrusted with a noble mission of safeguarding the lives and property of others. Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the app settings.
Safeguarding the health of SCDF officers and earthquake victims was all in a day’s work for SCDF’s NSF Doctors CPT (DR) Amos Lee and CPT (DR) Nicholas Tan at the disaster site.
Three off-duty ProCom officers were honoured with the SCDF Community Life Saviour Award for their calm assistance rendered in an emergency. It might be one of many people’s greatest fears: Seeing a loved one collapse and fall unconscious, with no one around to help except yourself. Thankfully for one elderly couple on 21 September last year, three off-duty Protective Security Command (ProCom) officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) happened to be passing by around 11am, after completing their morning deployment shift. SGT (1) Muhammad Khairul Anam Bin Abdul Halim, SGT (1) Muhammad Izuwan Bin Kamsani and SGT (2) Muhammad Nur Syahmi Bin Mazlan were walking to the public open carpark near Block 343, Clementi Avenue 5 when they realised there was a commotion taking place within the carpark. “When we got nearer, we understood that there might be a medical emergency,” said SGT (1) Anam. “Without thinking, we instantly rushed over to assist.” A MEDICAL EMERGENCY An elderly man was desperately carrying out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on his unconscious wife, who was lying in the middle of the carpark road with a bloodied face. Upon finding out that he had been performing CPR for 15 to 20 minutes already, SGT (1) Izuwan asked him if he could help as the man was sweating and fast becoming exhausted. “While my friend Izuwan continued with CPR, I asked the man some questions like ‘How did it happen?’ ‘Did you call an ambulance yet?’” recounted SGT (2) Syahmi. According to SGT (1) Anam, the aim was to calm the man down and get a full account of the incident. They were thus able to give the necessary information to the attending paramedics, and assisted the ambulance to the exact location where it was needed. In the meantime, SGT (1) Izuwan was quelling his own internal anxiety about performing CPR on a person suffering a real-life medical crisis – the first time he had ever done so. “I felt responsible,” he explained. “I had to do my best because I knew that her loved ones were depending on me to save her.” He stayed calm and composed, and made sure to follow his training precisely: “The situation will make you nervous, but you have to make sure to count, and not rush. I had to just trust what I learnt in performing CPR.” When the ambulance arrived shortly after, the paramedics took over and the three ProCom officers fell back, knowing that the elderly woman was in safe hands. Still unconscious, she was conveyed to hospital along with her husband. SGT (1) Izuwan made sure to follow up on her condition afterwards. It turned out that she had suffered a cardiac arrest when she was crossing the carpark towards the void deck. The fall caused her to suffer injuries to her face – hence the blood – and unconsciousness, but she is now in the process of recovering without any other major complications. RAISING AWARENESS OF CPR SKILLS The three ProCom officers’ unhesitating actions were recognised in the form of the Singapore Civil Defence Force Community Life Saviour Award. Downplaying his own efforts, SGT (1) Izuwan said: “While we didn’t do much, I feel that every second counted in this situation where there was a life that needed to be saved. Looking at how helpless the victim was as she lay on the floor unconscious prompted me to come in and assist. I think it’s normal for everyone to react that way.” The sudden nature of the event also offered some food for thought. Said SGT (1) Anam: “We learnt that we might come across such incidents unexpectedly, even when we are not on duty. And as NSmen from SPF, to ignore such a situation happening in front of us does not seem to be the right thing to do.” While SGT (2) Syahmi admitted that even during his National Service days with ProCom, he had never encountered an incident where CPR was needed, putting his CPR skills to the test has given SGT (1) Izuwan the confidence to use them again if needed in the future. “I feel it’s important to have at least the CPR skillset – not only to help others, but maybe even your close ones around you,” he pointed out. “I hope the Community Life Saviour Award brings awareness of this to everyone in Singapore.” Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to “Receive Digital Frontline Magazine” through the app settings.
These Home Team volunteers share why helping others and paying it forward matters to them.
SCDF ORNSmen and their community partners spent a meaningful day giving back to seniors at the Thye Hua Kwan Senior Care Centre at Kaki Bukit. TEXT AND PHOTOS: SCDF On 25 October 2022, the Civil Resources Unit (CRU) under Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)’s Logistics Department, partnered with Thye Hua Kwan Senior Care Centre at Kaki Bukit (THKSCC) to organise a charity event based on the theme “When Lifesaving Meets Caregiving”. The SCDF Operational Ready National Servicemen (ORNSmen) from CRU HQ, Bravo Company, served as SCDF’s charity ambassadors and passionately contributed to the event’s success. Assistant Commissioner (AC) Wesley Ho, Director of Logistics Department and his team of officers also volunteered at the event, which commenced with the SCDF ORNSmen giving special trishaw rides to the THKSCC seniors around the Kaki Bukit neighbourhood. The trishaw was provided by Cycling Without Age (CWA), a registered charity that runs innovative programmes to engage and empower seniors to live out their best years in active settings. A NOSTALGIC RIDE MAJ (NS) New Wee Beng offering THKSCC seniors a ride on a trishaw around the neighbourhood. The THKSCC seniors enjoyed the lush greenery and company of the SCDF ORNSmen, who took time outside their In-Camp Training, learning how to handle a trishaw and act as safety marshals during the event. “It is a great opportunity for SCDF to partner THKSCC and engage the seniors in this meaningful charity event,” said LTC (NS) Marcus Lee, Commander CRU. “The trishaw was a common mode of transport back in the days when the seniors were much younger. By having the seniors ride the trishaw, we hope this could bring back some fond memories for them.” SCDF CRU ORNSmen helping out with the trishaw ride. Apart from SCDF, other community partners such as The Food Bank SG and FILOS Community Services Ltd donated food and daily necessities which were packed into “care” packs. These care packs were distributed by SCDF ORNSmen to the households of 55 THKSCC seniors, as well as those seniors who attended the charity event. SCDF CRU ORNSmen helping to distribute care packs. Last but not least, a team of ORNSmen befriended the seniors at the care centre to engage and connect with them on a deeper and personal level. The seniors warmed up quickly to the ORNSmen, with some even sharing their cherished life stories and experiences. “As we work towards building A Nation of Lifesavers, it is important that we take time to remember the seniors as well as the less fortunate in the community and do what we can as an organisation to help improve lives apart from our core duties of emergency response,” said MAJ (NS) New Wee Beng, Deputy Commander CRU. SPARKING NEW PASSIONS SCDF ORNSmen and their community partners. For many of the ORNSmen and NSFs, it was their first time volunteering, and it sparked their interest to explore more opportunities in the future. “Besides performing our duty of protecting and saving lives and property at the frontlines, this charity event allows me to engage and contribute to the community in a new way. It is something refreshing and adds to the meaningfulness of being called back for In-Camp Training to serve with the Lifesaving Force,” said SGT (NS) Syed Ali Bin Syed Abdul Rahman. “Interacting with the elderlies helped me to understand them better and appreciate the challenges that they may face each day. It was indeed a rewarding experience for me and other NSFs as we brought smiles to the elderlies and helped make their day a joyful one,” said Lance Corporal (NSF) Jeremy Lai. The SCDF would like to thank THKSCC and its community partners for helping to make this meaningful charity event a success! Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App, and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.