Archive

Innovative Trainer with a Passion to Serve

Meet WO2 Nasiruddin Ghafor, a Senior Course Specialist who has been with The Life Saving Force for more than 12 years. In 2020, WO2 Nasiruddin was posted to the Civil Defence Academy (CDA) as a trainer. With sheer hard work and determination, he was awarded the Home Team (HT) Trainer of the Year in November 2021, just barely two years as a trainer. WO2 Nasiruddin is actively involved in training Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) undergoing the Section Commander Course (SCC) at CDA. If you do not already know, WO2 Nasiruddin was previously featured in Rescue 995, back in June 2020, for his swift and courageous act in fighting a fire that engulfed a Yishun HDB unit while on his way to work.

Our Veterans of the Sea, In Commemoration of SCDF Marine Division’s 10th Anniversary

On 1 April 2022, one of the world’s most powerful firefighting vessels, SCDF’s Heavy Fire Vessel (HFV), codenamed the Red Sailfish, put on a majestic display for guests and officers in attendance as SCDF Marine Division celebrated its 10th anniversary. Looking on with pride, SCDF Marine veterans Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) Cheong Kwong Hui, Warrant Officer 2 (WO2) Mohammed Firhin Bin Wahab and WO2 Mohamad Idros Bin Abubakar were among the many Marine Division officers present at this momentous event. Rescue 995 spoke to these marine veterans in an exclusive interview on their experiences as the pioneers who set up SCDF’s Marine Division.

Behind the Scenes (Part 2): The Making of ‘In Safe Hands’

You would have seen or heard about SCDF’s latest Mandarin drama serial, ‘In Safe Hands’ (with English subtitles), which was aired daily on Mediacorp channel 8 from 7 March to 18 March this year. The making of ‘In Safe Hands’ was a challenging but truly enriching experience for the Mediacorp production team, artistes and several SCDF officers. Rescue 995 goes behind the scenes in this exclusive interview with Loh Woon Woon, the Executive Producer; Oh Wei Ting and Lau Ching Poon, the script writers; two SCDF advisers namely Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Khaisarah Mansor and Major (MAJ) Shafi Rafie, as well the SCDF casts: LTC Ryan Hoo Wei Kun, Staff Sergeant (SSG) Gregory Ryan and SSG Kamarul Arifin. Read on to find out more about their experiences in the making of ‘In Safe Hand’.

Behind the Scenes (Part 1): Interview with Four Main Casts of 'In Safe Hands'

You would have seen or heard about SCDF’s latest Mandarin drama serial, ‘In Safe Hands’ (with English subtitles), which was aired daily on Mediacorp Channel 8 from 7 March to 18 March this year. During its premiere, the action-packed drama wowed the audience with adrenaline pumping scenes featuring SCDF’s latest ops-technological gadgets, fleet of emergency appliances as well as our very own officers of different ethnicity acting alongside the Mediacorp artistes. In case you missed it, the 10-episode drama is still available for free on meWATCH and you can catch it here. And now, Rescue 995 welcome the main casts to take centre stage on this exclusive interview as they share their experiences on the production of the drama serial.

Enhanced AED-on-Wheels Programme

The enhanced AED-on-Wheels Programme was launched on 25 February 2022 to equip drivers with Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in their privately-owned vehicles. For a start, in phase one of the programme, there are 50 trained participating drivers. They have been trained to conduct Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and operate an AED, and will be alerted to cardiac arrest cases via the SCDF’s myResponder app within a 1.5 kilometres radius of their location. “Temasek Foundation is glad to partner SCDF for the enhanced AED-on-Wheels Programme,” said Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Board Director of Temasek Foundation Cares. “By equipping Community First Responders (CFRs) with AEDs in their private vehicles, this will enable them to respond quickly during a cardiac arrest emergency and thereby help to improve the victim’s chances of survival.”

Down But Not Out

SCDF emergency responders are often seen as physically strong and always ready to jump into the thick of action to save lives and properties. But did you know that there are a few among them who had to overcome a period of setback or hardship to become such resilient heroes? Lieutenant (LTA) Chennam Uday Samir, a Rota/shift Commander from Punggol Fire Station, is one of them. Rescue 995 engaged LTA Samir in an exclusive interview as he talked about an unexpected twist during his Rota Commander Course (RCC) and how he overcame all odds to eventually become a Rota Commander.

Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

Like all museums, the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery (CDHG) offer visitors a glimpse into the past. However, a visit to the CDHG is not all about an eye-opening experience of the Civil Defence development in Singapore from the late 1800s. It is also a journey on the SCDF today and even a peep into the near future.

Empowered to Save Lives

Community First Responders (CFRs) have always played a pivotal role in helping others during emergencies, including saving lives. The launch of smart technology solutions like the SCDF’s myResponder mobile application (app) in 2019 had significantly enhanced community response to emergencies. Today, there are more than 100,000 registered CFRs on the app. These responders include members of the public as well as our in-house personnel such as the SCDF’s Operational Ready National Service (ORNS) men and volunteers from the Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit (CDAU).

Auxiliary Police Officers Going Beyond The Call of Duty

A quiet Sunday morning on 14 November 2021 was disrupted by a deafening crash. A car had overturned near some bollards outside the Parliament House. Without hesitation, Staff Sergeant (APF) Mohammad Bin Jamaludin, an Auxiliary Police Officer (APO) from Certis CISCO Security Pte Ltd who was on duty at the nearby Supreme Court sprang into action. He was the first to arrive at the scene of the road traffic accident. He noticed that a driver was stuck in his car while a passenger was pinned under it!

These Rescuers Would Scale Any Heights Just to Save Lives

On the evening of 12 November 2021, SCDF fire and rescue specialists from Central Fire Station and members of the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) responded to a height rescue operation at a construction site along Beach Road. A man had injured his leg while working on a 70-metre tower crane and was unable to climb down to safety.