Home › In The Force › These Innovations And Efforts Keep Our Home Team At The Forefront Of National Security
From off-road motorbike trainings to state-of-the-art facilities that recreate different emergency rescue scenarios, here are the ways that our Home Team heroes stay ready for action.
TEXT: MARY WU
PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE, SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
In addition to their bravery and dedication, our Home Team Guardians also train hard to protect the public in the face of challenging and risky situations. Giving them an edge are top-notch facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology, as well as meticulously-coordinated units that function like well-oiled machines. These efforts help to ensure that our national heroes are adequately prepared for any situation.
Read on to discover more about these innovations and teams.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE (SPF)
1. SWIFT AND SKILLFUL: RAPID DEPLOYMENT TROOPS
Trained to deal with public order threats and terrorist incidents, Rapid Deployment Troops can zip in on their Tactical Response Motorcycles — unmissable with their glaring blinker lights and screaming sirens — which allow them to rapidly manoeuvre through traffic gridlocks and challenging terrains, to reach incident sites quickly. Behind their speed and agility are hours of regular tactical riding exercises that include off-road training.
2. CALL CANINE-NINE-NINE: PUBLIC ORDER DOG
You may have seen our four-legged friends with their partners in blue, working hand-in-paw to control crowds, conduct anti-crime patrols, and track wanted individuals. Known for their versatility, the POD handlers’ trusty canines are also trained to guard criminals under arrest and patrol critical infrastructure. The POD teams work closely with the Police Tactical Unit to handle public order incidents and are also deployed to patrol at various security events.
3. MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER: POLICE TACTICAL UNIT
Part of the Special Operations Command, the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) maintains public order in Singapore, from quelling riots to searching for armed criminals and terrorists. Bolstering PTU’s strength is its sophisticated fleet of purpose-built vehicles, which include the Tactical Vehicles, the Tactical Strike Vehicles, and the Water Cannons to disperse crowds. PTU officers are also equipped with an armoury of weapons and wear state-of-the-art personal protective gear plus a Helmet Mounted Camera System that aids in post-event investigations.
SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE (SCDF)
4. BEATING THE HEAT: COMPARTMENT FIRE BEHAVIOUR TRAINING
Indoor fires carry risks such as flashovers and backdrafts. The former is a sudden simultaneous ignition of combustible contents in an enclosed space when the temperature reaches a critical level, while the latter is a phenomenon that occurs when a fire is deprived of oxygen but continues to produce flammable gases. When fresh air is reintroduced into the enclosed space, these accumulated gases can cause an explosion.
At the Compartment Fire Behaviour Training facility, firefighters can experience such hazards in a controlled environment where sensors and thermocouples embedded within the walls monitor real‐time temperatures of the smoke and fire to ensure safe and effective training. Utilising a system that meets the standards of the National Environment Agency — a wet scrubber system processes, cools, and cleans gases and smoke generated by the facility.
5. KEEPING ROADS AND TUNNELS SAFE: ODYSSEY
Firefighters and medical personnel train in the Odyssey — a replica of an underground road tunnel — to prepare for scenarios such as road traffic accidents, vehicle fires, and tunnel flooding. Through simulations involving scrapped vehicles, officers can practice their extrication, vehicle stabilisation, and mass casualty management techniques.
6. ENHANCING EMERGENCY RESPONSE: NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TRAINING CENTRE
The National Emergency Medical Services Training Centre (NETC) is SCDF’s new pre‐hospital emergency medical training centre. Trainees undergo comprehensive training via end-to-end simulations, mixed-reality, and sensors that provide real-time feedback. These take them through various crucial processes from team preparation and planning prior to arrival on the scene to the medical management of the patient both on-scene and enroute to the hospital and the handover of patient management to hospital staff.
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