Singapore’s population has grown by 58 per cent over the last 20 years. But the police force has only grown by about 16 per cent. This means that for every 614 residents, there is only one police officer. This number is two to three times lower than cities like Japan and Hong Kong, said Commissioner of Police Mr Ng Joo Hee following the 2013 Little India Riot.
One way to address this unevenness is for more people to come out and help when they see something happening. These people are called bystander responders.
Bystander responders rescue stranger stuck under truck
One example, that touched the hearts of Singaporeans, was when a group of passers-by came to the help of a man who had been pinned under the rear wheel of a truck. The accident occurred on Wednesday July 22, 2015, at the junction of Bendemeer Road and Boon Keng Road. Bystander responders helped to tilt the vehicle to get him out, and the man was later taken to the hospital by ambulance. Although they were strangers to one another, these passers-by were all focused on helping to save the trapped man as quickly as they could. Other quick thinking individuals assisted by dialling 995 to call for help. An onlooker captured the rescue on video and it was quickly shared through the local media. The Singapore Civil Defence Force commended the act, and awarded those involved in lifting the truck the certificate of public spiritedness. A certificate of appreciation was awarded to three others who helped notify SCDF about the accident. Lieutenant Colonel Alan Chow, commander of 1st SCDF division said: “We want to applaud and acknowledge that act by awarding them with this award. We think that this incident underlines the importance of bystander responders and we want to actively encourage people to pick up emergency preparedness skills.”
Mr Samsuddin Musa, 53, one of those who helped with the rescue said, “At first I was a bit scared to help but I brushed away those feelings them and help them to pull the man out, … “Almost 30 years ago, I myself was involved in a road accident so I could empathise with the man and wanted to help him. I understand what it feels like to need help, so I just did what any normal human being would do.”
Ms Lee Yuen Wan, 28, one of the three individuals who reported the accident said, “When I heard the loud yelling, it sounded like the man was in great pain. I knew then that I had to do something to help the person and without wasting any time, I just dialled 995 to call for assistance while monitoring the situation from my office window,” said Ms Lee.
Primary school student helps extinguish fire in bin chute
In August 2013 12-year old student, Nurul Iffah Binte Mohammad Arifin, received the certificate of Public Spiritedness. Nurul was awarded for quickly springing to action when she saw a fire at a rubbish chute near her home in Pasir Ris in September 2012. “I immediately rushed back home and got my parents to prepare pails of water with me,” said Nurul, whose father is a police officer and mother is a bank officer. “My parents and school always taught me to think quickly in unusual situations.” The buckets of water were used by the fire-fighters, who by then had arrived on scene, to quickly extinguish the fire. The fire-fighters discovered that due to a power outage, the Centralised Rubbish Chute inbuilt drencher system was not able to be used.
We should all be on standby should any emergency situation arise
The Ministry for Home Affairs supports building the skills and awareness of emergency preparedness in Singaporeans from a young age. On 15 May 2015, a new batch of 580 Junior CD Lionhearters from 22 primary schools were appointed as their schools’ Emergency Preparedness (EP) Ambassadors at Park View Primary School. The EP Ambassadors are asked to raise awareness and share the importance of emergency preparedness with their schoolmates, friends and families. They are equipped with skills such as basic first aid, and fire safety.
Guest-of-Honour for the ceremony, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr Masagos Zulkifli said that “Building these skills among … students now (will ensure that) when they grow up, they can be on standby (should) any emergency situation arise.”
Evidently, when everyone plays his or her part in keeping the society safe and orderly, not only lives are saved, but it also helps build a stronger, a more resilient and caring nation that you and I can be proud to live in. Will you play your part today?
Evidently, when everyone plays his or her part in keeping the society safe and orderly, not only lives are saved, but it also helps build a stronger, a more resilient and caring nation that you and I can be proud to live in. Will you play your part today?
Caption: Passers-by helping to lift a truck to free a man pinned underneath. The victim escaped with a leg fracture. Photo: screengrabs from video courtesy of Foo Suan Wang
Nurul Iffah Binte Mohammad Arifin, 12, is the youngest person to receive the Minister for Home Affairs Natioanl Day Award (Public Spiritedness). PHOTO: Matthew Wong
Sources: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/watch-scdf-awards-16-helping-save-man-pinned-under-truck#sthash.hZBjtdaK.dpuf and http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/passers-by-pitch-in-to-rescue-man-trapped-under-lorry-at-boon-keng-road and https://www.hometeam.sg/article.aspx?news_sid=20150726nRmiDjY52Jr3 and https://www.hometeam.sg/m/article.aspx?news_sid=20130806xrZtyo64znJa and https://www.hometeam.sg/m/article.aspx?news_sid=20140403HcXxIfL83aQm
