CD Lionhearters: The Emergency Preparedness (EP) Ambassadors Within Schools and Beyond

SCDF’s CD Lionhearters Forum 2013 kicked off to a start on 31 January 2013 at the ITE College East with the theme of, “CD Lionhearters: The EP Ambassadors Within Schools and Beyond”. The Guest of Honour, Associate Professor (A/P) Ho Peng Kee, Chairman of the Home Team Volunteers Network, was warmly welcomed by ITE College East’s Soul Percussion Group. Following that, a group of ITE College East’s students from the discipline of Electrical Technology (Lighting & Sound) awed the guests with a Civil Defence-centric laser show, bringing the event to an electrifying start. A/P Ho Peng Kee gave a passionate opening address on the growth of the CD Lionhearters Club and the vital EP ambassadorial role which the CD Lionhearters could undertake in their respective schools and within the community.

CD Lionhearters presenting a commemorative tin can to Mr Hassan Ahmad (third from Right)

The main highlight of the forum was the presentation of various awards to recognise the efforts of outstanding CD Lionhearters. The “City Gas – CD Lionhearters Study Bursary Award 2013” was presented by Mr Tan Kok Soon, Vice President (Production) of City Gas, to 10 deserving CD Lionhearters from the five clubs – Singapore Polytechnic, ITE College East, ITE College West, Temasek Polytechnic and ITE College Central – who have shown excellent performance both academically and in the CD Lionhearters Club activities. Following that, SCDF Commissioner, Comr Eric Yap, presented the “Outstanding CD Lionhearters” Testimonials to 10 CD Lionhearters who have been actively involved in the Club. Representatives from the five clubs also presented a tin can to Mr Hassan Ahmad, Chief Executive of the Mercy Relief (MR), as a symbolic gesture of the handing over the funds raised by five clubs in December last year, during MR’s island wide street collection.

A/P Ho Peng Kee and Comr Eric Yap viewing an exhibit about the CD Lionhearters’ overseas deployment

Mr Loh Kum Fei recounts the humble origins of the CD Lionhearters club in ITE College East

Besides acknowledging the contributions of the Lionhearters, the forum also featured a sharing session by guest speaker, Mr Loh Kum Fei, Deputy Director, School of Engineering, ITE College East, who recounted the college’s enriching experience in setting up the CD Lionhearters Club in 2010. In addition, the forum brought together CD Lionhearters from the five clubs and some NCDCC cadet lieutenants in a break out discussion to deliberate on the role of the students in community emergency preparedness. While the CD Lionhearters were having the breakout session, all guests were brought on a tour of the exhibition booths set up by the CD Lionhearters from the ITE College East and ITE College West on their recent Overseas Humanitarian Rebuilding Projects to Indonesia and Philippines respectively. The event came to a meaningful close with a consolidation of points made during the breakout discussion.

Fun time at the breakout discussion

Working for a Safer Tomorrow @ Jurong Central EP Day

A realistic fire scenario.

As the saying goes, “a stitch in time saves nine”. It was on this note of vigilance and caution that Jurong Central Emergency Preparedness (EP) Day commenced on 11 November 2012 at the hard court next to Block 489 Jurong West Ave 1. The event was graced by Mr Ang Wei Neng, Advisor of Jurong Central Constituency. Upon Mr Ang’s arrival, the activities began with an exhilarating fire scenario at Block 489 where a fire broke out on the second floor and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members quickly responded by evacuating casualties to safety and rendering on-site first-aid treatment on-site. SCDF responders then reached the scene and put out the fire and evacuate remaining casualties on the second and third floors.

Also in attendance were NCDCC cadets and cadets from St. John’s Ambulance Brigade who worked hand in hand with SCDF personnel to educate residents on proper CPR techniques and basic first aid. A definite highlight of the event was the fire wok demonstration which proved to be thrilling to the young audience. By the event’s close, it was obvious that the activities and messages relating to Emergency Preparedness had made a lasting impression on all who had attended.

The invaluable CPR demonstration.

The fire wok segment: equipping the public with vital EP knowledge.

SCDF personnel getting ready to fight the blaze.

Reaching Out To Our Young

“Your task for this checkpoint is to perform an arm dressing on your partner in this simulated scenario. You only have 30 minutes to complete this task! Remember, the dressing has to be neat. No skipping of steps. Ready…Go!”

These were the instructions given by WO2 Rafidah Ibrahim, a medic at the Civil Defence Academy, to the 26 teams taking part in the inaugural Total Defence Challenge on 15 February 2013. A total of 136 regulars from the Singapore Armed Forces, Active Agers from the People’s Association and representatives from Special Olympics Singapore, Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) and Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) took part in the full day race to complete tasks like first aid bandaging in an 8 pit-stop race around Singapore.

A student having a hands-on experience in “manoeuvring” a fully-charged fire hose (at the SDC).

Students learning how to operate fire extinguishers (at RP).

Speaking at the Republic Polytechnic (RP) where the Total Defence Day 2013 Commemoration Event was held, Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, in his Total Defence Day 2013 message reminded all that “in addition to building a strong defence force, we have to forge social harmony and national resilience, develop emergency responses and ensure business continuity”. More than 5,000 visitors were also given the opportunity to learn Emergency Preparedness skills like administering CPR and extinguishing virtual fire using a simulated Bullex Extinguisher at 2nd CD Division’s exhibition booth. Students and visitors also got up close and personal with static vehicular displays such as the Red Rhino and the 3-Wheeler Fire Bike.

Commemorated annually on 15 February 2013, Total Defence Day marks the day when Singapore fell to the Japanese. Each year, on this day at 12.05pm, The Public Warning System (PWS) “Important Message” signal is sounded islandwide by the SCDF, as a reminder to Singaporeans on the importance Total Defence. The PWS “Important Message” sounding was accompanied by the public education messages aired on all free-to-air local radio stations and the delivery of the civil defence message in schools to emphasise the importance of emergency preparedness to students. The SCDF also activates a localized Public Warning System “All Clear” signal in the morning of 15 February 2013 at the 46th War Memorial Service in Commemoration of the civilian victims of the Japanese Occupation.

The young ones trying their hands at CPR under the guidance of SCDF personnel (at RP).

Teamwork and coordination count in carrying a lying casualty to safety (at the SDC).

Over at the Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC), emergency preparedness knowledge and skills was shared with more than 7,600 students from 25 primary and secondary schools during the 12 days of activities in support of Total Defence Day 2013 (from 5 to 22 February). Students were given an opportunity to experience the adrenaline pumping action of the firefighters through an interactive simulation which required them to mitigate an overturned lorry carrying a drum of toxic chemicals that had engulfed in flames.

Other highlights of the Total Defence Day activities at the SDC also included the SCDF’s public education exhibits on the Ready Bag, arm sling bandaging and extricating trapped victims with rescue equipment. Students at the Ready Bag packing station were given 1 minute to correctly identify the necessary items for a Ready Bag from an acrylic box filled with different essential and non-essential items. These activities proved to be engaging for the students who participated in them.

This year’s Total Defence Day Campaign truly communicated the message and spirit of Total Defence to all who had attended and participated in the various activities. Furthermore, it was a tremendously enjoyable and informative experience.

Exercise Bluewhale – A Stunning First for CDMC

Casualty spotted by the Rescue and Suppression Team

It has been 9 months since CDMC became operational after SCDF took over the marine fire fighting function from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). While CDMC has participated in a number of exercises with other units in SCDF and with related agencies which operate in the marine domain, the mariners of SCDF have yet to be tested in an exercise scenario where CDMC is the lead agency in mitigating a marine emergency incident. After 9 months, it is time to validate CDMC’s capability in managing an incident at sea in a multi-agency exercise, Exercise Bluewhale.

15 January 2013, 1430hrs.

“Station 81, Station 81, turn out to location south of Pulau Hantu Besar. Case of ferry on fire.”

Upon receiving the activation message from SCDF Operations Centre, the marine fire fighting specialists at West Coast Marine Fire Station sprang into action, hopping onto the Marine Fire Vessels (MFV) towards the said location. Riding the waves at top speed, the SCDF marine specialists arrived at the location but only to be greeted by the sight of a regional ferry with thick black smoke rising from its stern. Several men were spotted struggling to stay afloat in the water. These were passengers from the burning ferry who had jumped into the water to escape the fire. Three other government vessels from related agencies, namely, the Police Coast Guard (PCG), MPA and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were also at the scene to assist with the rescue of these men overboard (MOB).

Marine Fire Fighting Specialists fishing out a MOB casualty using a rigid-hull inflatable boat.

Related agency MPA assisting with the rescue of a MOB casualty

Being a marine fire incident, where the SCDF is assuming its role as the Incident Manager, MFV 811 quickly radio established communications with the captain of the distressed ferry to obtain details of the fire and the number of casualties expected. Instructions were also quickly given out to the related agencies’ vessels to carry out different tasks such as the establishment of cordon by PCG, sea traffic control by MPA and the assistance of MOB rescue by ICA. MFV 811 moored alongside of the burning vessel on portside, and the marine specialists rapidly set up a 38mm water jet to tackle the seat of the fire, located at the engine room in the under deck of the ferry. MFV 812, on the other hand, was deployed to manage the rescue of all the MOBs who were swiftly scooped out of the cold waters with the assistance of the MPA and ICA vessels. The fire was successfully put out after 25 minutess of continuous fire fighting operation by the SCDF marine specialists and all 8 casualties were rescued.

MFV 811 mooring alongside Sea Kestrel (blue hull boat on the extreme right) on the port side.

The exercise was a great success as SCDF validated its marine emergency plans to provide rapid and effective mitigation of marine fire incidents. The exercise also proved that effective communication and coordination with related agencies are integral to the efficient mitigation of marine incidents.

Many Hearts, One Mission

MAJ Tan Teck Meng addressing the enthusiastic CDAU officers.

Officers from our proud CDAU family.

A get-together was organized by HQ Manpower Department on 2 February 2013 for Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit (CDAU) officers from the various units to interact and gain insight into SCDF’s functions and operations.

34 CDAU officers were taken through certain procedures such as how “995” calls are managed in the Ops Centre and how the raging fire at East Village Hotel was mitigated. They exchanged the rich experiences which they had gained during their respective tours of duty, and, in the process, knew more about one another. It certainly was an enriching and engaging session that did much to bolster the dedication and bonding felt by the CDAU officers. Looking at the smiles all around, it irrefutable that the CDAU officers also take pride in their vocations and responsibilities.

Pressing On in the Heat of Adversity

The affected premises.

28January 2013—the fire coding was sounded, turning out PL411 and PL412, LF411, CP411, FB411 and FB131 at around 1455 hours. The fire fighting crew from Rota 2 of Jurong Fire Station was despatched for a fire call at Corporation Drive for a fire that was raging in a storeroom.

The affected area was a condominium construction site where one of the units on the first floor had been turned into a store for construction equipment. Even from afar, a column of thick black smoke had engulfed the construction site and its surrounding vicinity.

Damping down operations in progress.

Amidst the efforts to evacuate the workers in the premises, the personnel from Jurong Fire Station had to work their way through zero visibility to locate the seat of the fire. All they could see were tongues of flame creeping out from the gaps between the ceiling and corrugated metal sheets acting as makeshift walls at the rear of the unit.

SCDF responders conducting Search and Rescue operations.

Pressing on in the heat of adversity, the fire was swiftly brought under control by the crew and within half an hour, it was completely extinguished. The fire was confined to the area within the store. There was a bit of anxiety during the initial moment as of the 290 workers at the building, 6 were still unaccounted for. They were later found trapped at the 12^th floor of the building and were safely brought out of the premises by the SCDF personnel.

Speed and Vigilance at Kampong Glam EP Day

Thick smoke billowing from the 3^rd level corridor of Block 5, Beach Road, marked the start of the Kampong Glam Emergency Preparedness (EP) Day scenario that was held on a bright Sunday morning on 13 January 2013.

The crowd who was enjoying the games and exhibition organised by Kampong Glam C2E and SCDF was caught by surprise when a “corridor fire” suddenly broke out. They witnessed the important role residents and grassroots volunteers played as these first responders sprang into action to provide first aid to casualties and evacuate residents during an emergency.

SCDF personnel performing a CPR demonstration.

CERT members evacuating a casualty to safety.

Gracing the occasion was Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng, a Member of Parliament for Moulmein–Kallang GRC. A visibly delighted Ms Phua showed her appreciation by acknowledging the efforts of the participants and taking the opportunity to have a group photograph with them.

Ms Phua was impressed with the public education messages as depicted on the exhibits for the kitchen fire, corridor fire and rubbish chute fire put up by 1^st CD Division. She also emphasised on the need for the residents to be proactively aware of fire safety knowledge when she spoke on the stage during the event.

The EP Day had benefited over 500 residents who were given the opportunity to learn more about emergency preparedness through games and hands-on activities such as First Aid, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and fighting fire by means of fire extinguishers.

The fire wok demonstration: Experiential and enlightening learning.

Thumbs up! Celebrating the end of a successful EP Day.