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Response to TODAY's Forum Letter on ''Teach students to deal with cardiac arrest victims''

26 November 2013

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SAF Medics Trained to Manage Medical Emergencies

We thank Dr Dana Elliott for his letter ("Teach students to deal with cardiac arrest victims" dated 22 Nov 2013).

The safety and well-being of our servicemen is of utmost importance to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). After Corporal (CPL) (NS) Gan Theng Kiong suffered a cardiac arrest, he was immediately attended to by the on-site SAF medic. As he had a pulse, there was no need to apply the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). CPL(NS) Gan was quickly evacuated by the medic to the medical centre within the camp, where he was assessed by the SAF medical officer to have deteriorated and Advanced Cardiac Life Support was administered immediately. The SAF medical team also continued their efforts to resuscitate CPL(NS) Gan en-route to the hospital.

All SAF medics undergo systematic training to recognise and provide first-line treatment for a range of medical emergencies, including cardiac arrest. The training is accredited by the Justice Institute of British Columbia, a leading educator for training pre-hospital care paramedics. SAF medics are also required to be qualified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED application to the standards stipulated by the National Resuscitation Council. They are also regularly assessed to ensure that they maintain a high level of knowledge and skill proficiency, and are effective in managing medical emergencies.

​In addition, to further enhance the first-responder network, the SAF has been training all recruits in CPR and the application of the AED during their Basic Military Training (BMT) since 2010. This is complemented by the installation of accessible AEDs in all SAF camps earlier this year. Collectively, these efforts have improved access to emergency first responder care and early defibrillation when necessary, for our servicemen.


SLTC Poon Beng Hoong
Chief Army Medical Officer
Commander SAF Medical Training Institute

MINDEF's reply was published as "SAF medics are trained to manage medical emergencies", TODAY, 26 Nov 2013

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