The SCDF’s annual Workplan Seminar was held on 9 May 2019 at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). At the event, the SCDF unveiled several new firefighting-rescue system and technologies that will enhance emergency response and frontline operations. Some of the highlights included the Modular Oil Tank Firefighting System, the revamped Medical Support Vehicle, and the Combined Platform Ladder 60M (CPL60).
#1 Modular Oil Tank Fire-Fighting System (MOTFS)
The Modular Oil Tank Fire-Fighting System (MOTFS) is the new generation of SCDF’s oil tank fire fighting system to be operational in 2020. This fire-fighting system will bring substantial strategic operational advantage to SCDF due to its enhanced fire-fighting capabilities to discharge foam to large-scale fires for up to 100,000 litres per minute, as well as drafting water supply directly from open source such as from the sea or marine vessels. The laying of fire-fighting equipment on site is always the most resource-intensive but with the MOTFS, its equipment comes in a modular form and this allows it to be quickly deployed in various combinations to match the scale of the incident.
#2 Medical Support Vehicle (MSV)
The new and enhanced Medical Support Vehicle (MSV), built for mass casualty incidents, provides improved pre-hospital medical care for both peacetime and national emergencies. The MSV provides a clean environment for SCDF paramedics to perform on-site stabilisation and critical invasive medical treatments.
#3 Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE)
The Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE) set-up provides an unlimited air supply to divers from the SCDF’s elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART), enabling them to perform prolonged underwater search and rescue operations. The divers are protected from underwater contaminants as they will be clothed in the fully encapsulated Dry Suit. In addition, a wired communication system and camera are integrated into the diver’s helmet to enable audio and visual communication between the diver and the ground commander. The SSDE will improve SCDF’s underwater rescue capabilities and the safety of the divers as they operate underwater.
#4 Combined Platform Ladder 60M (CPL60)
The Combined Platform Ladder 60M (CPL60) is the latest addition to SCDF’s aerial firefighting and rescue capabilities. It is able to extend its platform ladder up to a maximum height of 60m, or the equivalent of a 20-storey building. The CPL60 is equipped with a water monitor capable of discharging water at the rate of 3,800 litres per minute, and a rescue cage that can hold up to 500kg. With the addition of the CPL60 to its existing fleet of CPL34m and Aerial Ladder 56m, SCDF ground commanders are presented with a range of tactical options for the deployment of high-rise fire and rescue operations.
#5 Marine Division’s Rescue Jet Ski (RJ)
The Marine Division’s Rescue Jet Ski (RJ) is a rescue equipment to facilitate shallow water operations. The RJ is designed for conducting swift water rescue of casualties in shallow waters without fear of grounding due to its shallow draft and towing sled.
#6 Improvised First Aid Skills Plus (IFAS PLUS)
The Improvised First Aid Skills Plus (IFAS PLUS) incorporates the Windlass Technique to the “Press, Tie, Tell” technique. The launch of the IFAS PLUS reiterates SCDF’s commitment to continually upskilling the community with lifesaving techniques to ensure that they are prepared to respond to emergencies.
#7 Automatic Speech Recognition 995 (ASR995)
The Automatic Speech Recognition 995 (ASR995) system is able to automatically transcribe 995 emergency calls into the Emergency Call Taking Form (ECT), so that SCDF’s 995 Operations Centre Specialists will spend less time logging the crucial information and allowing SCDF emergency resources to be dispatched quickly to life-threatening incidents. The ASR995 is being programmed to also recognize the four official languages of Singapore – English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
