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Lieutenant (LTA) Muhammad Bukhary Bin Abu Bakar, father of two and a Rota Commander at Yishun Fire Station, has been a member of The Lifesaving Force for over 12 years

The Life of A Fire & Rescue Specialist

Wearing the heavy firefighting gears, running into burning buildings, prying damaged cars to rescue trapped victims, and even restarting the heart, SCDF fire and rescue specialists are renowned for their quick and timely response in saving lives and properties.

Warrant Officers, WO2 Lean Chee Keat (left) and WO1 Dan Qiong (right), posing for the camera with the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Dogs and Fire Investigation (FI) dogs.

A Working Dog’s Life in SCDF Search Platoon

King Frederick II of Prussia once said that a dog is a man’s best friend. This famous quote still rings true even today. For over three hundred years, search and rescue dogs have been used to locate people who are lost in remote places. During World War I, search and rescue dogs helped medics locate lost and injured soldiers, helping them to find their way back to camp. These dogs are renowned for their keen sense of smell and it is a vital trait required for search and rescue operations. The Search Platoon (K-9 unit) of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) trains and deploys dogs for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations as well as for Fire Investigation (FI). Rescue 995 engaged the dog handlers from the Search Platoon, Warrant Officers, WO1 Dan Qiong and WO2 Lean Chee Keat for an exclusive interview.

SCDF Emergency Responders Working Round the Clock in Challenging Times

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, SCDF’s emergency responders worked round-the-clock, including conveying COVID-19 patients to the hospital. Earlier this month in mid-February, we commemorated Total Defence Day. In Total Defence, everyone has a part to play to ensure the safety and security of our nation. For SCDF, the focus is providing the safety of the community so that life can go on as normal as possible during and after emergencies. Rescue 995 engaged paramedic SGT2 Gwen Ong Sock Puay and emergency medical technician (EMT) SSG Mohammad Aliff Bin Rosli as they shared their experiences during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WO1 Mohamed Shafiee bin Jamin waiting in line with other SCDF officers for his turn to receive the vaccination.

Front-liners Who Took the Shot Expressed Confidence in the New Vaccine

On 11 January 2021, over 1,000 SCDF officers involved in front-line healthcare operations received their Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccination at the Temporary Medical Centre set-up at HQ SCDF. Prior to the vaccination, these officers were screened for their eligibility, based on their medical history and pre-existing medical conditions. They received their second dose on 1 February 2021. Rescue 995 engaged Paramedic WO1 Mohamed Shafiee bin Jamin and Emergency Medical Technician SGT3 Muhammad Aerzam bin Abdullah on their experience for being one of the first few SCDF officers to be vaccinated.

Even Heroes May Need Help

It may surprise many of you to think that heroes are not invincible as we do not expect to see vulnerabilities in these extraordinary individuals. The thought that heroes can be as ordinary as you and me may be hard for us to conceive. SCDF’s emergency responders are often seen as heroes who are physically strong, resilient, and are always ready to jump into the thick of action to save lives and properties. However, these front-liners are humans with emotions and vulnerabilities. Every incident, no matter big or small, may at times take a psychological toll on our SCDF officers, which is why even heroes need may need help. This is where SCDF’s Emergency Behavioural Sciences and Care unit (EBSC) comes in. Meet EBSC’s psychologist, Mr Cyrus Chng, who has been providing psychological support and counselling services to members of The Life Saving Force for over two years.

Chairman, Bedok Community Emergency and Engagement Committee Shares His Passion to Serve the Public

You would have read about Mr Patrick Cheong in the news recently. He had responded to two incidents and was awarded the SCDF’s Community First Responder Award (CFRA) and the Community Lifesavers’ Award (CLA). Mr Cheong is the Chairman of Bedok Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E) and has played a pivotal role in assisting Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) in organising SGSecure related programmes for the residents in Bedok constituency. Rescue 995 engaged Mr Cheong for an exclusive interview as he shared his experiences as a Community First Responder (CFR) and Grassroot volunteer in Bedok Constituency.

Cycling Champion Shares Training Tips to Winning Races

Meet Staff Sergeant (SSG) Ahmad Ridhwan Bin Dahlan, a section commander of the SCDF’s elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) and one of the recipients of the Home Team Sports and Recreation Association (HTSRA) Merit Award 2020. This award acknowledges SSG Ridhwan’s outstanding contribution as a SCDF Multi-sports Convenor and a competitor who represented SCDF’s cycling team, taking it to the podium for the past four years!

SWO1 Irianto Bin Marino (left) and MAJ Abdul Razak Senin (right) holding their well-deserved medallion.

Former Veteran DART Rescuers Recall Their First Overseas Operation

MAJOR (MAJ) Abdul Razak Senin and Senior Warrant Officer (SWO1) Irianto Bin Marino can never forget their first overseas operation as rescuers from the newly formed Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) twenty-seven years ago. It was also the year when they had just graduated from the 1st DART Conversion Course. Five months after the conversion course, on 11 December 1993, a huge mudslide brought on by the heavy December rains triggered the collapse of a 12-storey building on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Within hours, DART rescuers were activated to assist in the rescue mission at Highland Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

COL Chew Keng Tok holding his well-deserved medallion

In Conversation with COLONEL Chew Keng Tok, a Veteran DART Rescuer

Meet COLONEL (COL) Chew Keng Tok who has spent over 16 years as a member of the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). COL Chew had graduated from the 10th DART Specialist Course in 2003. He joined the elite unit as a Platoon Commander from 2003 to 2006, and later led the unit as the DART Commander for close to five years since 2015. On 26 October 2020, COL Chew was one of the eight DART members who received a medallion each for their immense contributions to the unit over the years. Today, he is the Commander of 2nd SCDF Division.

CPT Saifulbahri holding the award in his hand

SCDF’s Convenor for Sepak Takraw Wants to Keep the Sport’s Tradition Alive

Meet CPT Saifulbahri Bin Mohd Idris, a training management officer at SCDF 1st Division HQ and one of the recipients of the Home Team Sports and Recreation Association (HTSRA) Merit Award 2020. This award acknowledges CPT Saifulbahri’s outstanding contribution as a Sports Convenor of SCDF’s Sepak Takraw. Under CPT Saifulbahri’s guidance, SCDF’s Sepak Takraw team emerged as champions and runners-up for several tournaments in 2019 and in the early part of 2020 before the start of Covid-19 Circuit Breaker.