Reply to ST Forum Letter "Shore Up SAF Medics"

SAF Medics are Well-Trained for Operational Situations

We thank Dr Leong Choon Kit for his feedback and support for National Service.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS) enhances the medical evacuation support system to provide a more comprehensive medical coverage for our training activities. When a casualty suffers injury in the field, the SAF medic will stabilise the serviceman and evacuate him to the casualty collection point where the EAS crew will take over the management of the casualty, all the way to the hospital. The SAF medics, paramedics and medical officers continue to remain central in providing medical support for SAF operations and training. Besides maintaining the operational readiness of all SAF medical centres, they also participate in various local and overseas exercises. Many of them served in overseas operations including the SAF's six-year deployment in Afghanistan, the 2004 tsunami-relief efforts in Aceh, and various United Nations missions.

We are glad that Dr Leong attests to the quality and passion of the medics who served with him during National Service. The medic training curriculum is regularly reviewed by medical specialists and is updated to keep pace with the latest medical evidence and best practices. As part of their training, medics have to undergo a rigorous curriculum where they are taught critical life-saving skills, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the use of oxygen resuscitator and the use of automated external defibrillator. Their skills are honed as they provide medical treatment in their units, and when required, emergency medical response to SAF servicemen.

Both the SAF and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics receive further training at the SAF Medical Training Institute. They can provide advanced pre-hospital emergency care independently, such as the administration of life-saving drugs. The SAF paramedics provide medical support for training, perform operational duties, and instruct trainee medics. Working as a team, they are assisted by the medics when they are deployed to support training activities.

We would also like to assure Dr Leong that the EAS ambulances meet the SAF's stringent medical evacuation requirements, and the EAS team members meet the necessary security requirements.

The well-being of our servicemen is of paramount importance to MINDEF and the SAF. We will continue to enhance the SAF's safety and medical support systems.

COL(Dr) Poon Beng Hoong,
Chief Army Medical Officer
Commander SAF Medical Training Institute