Community effort in emergency preparedness
To promote awareness of emergency preparedness in the NUS community, NUS Campus Security, supported by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), organised the NUS SGSecure Day 2018 on 23 January. With help from the NUS Civil Defence Lionhearters (NUS CD Lionhearters) and the NUS National Police Cadet Corps (NUS NPCC), NUS Campus Security demonstrated the seamless cooperation and teamwork between the NUS community, SCDF and SPF in cases of emergency.
A simulated crisis scenario illustrated the process of emergency response, from the first step of alerting Campus Security, seguing to the arrival of the SPF to manage the perpetrator and finally ending with the rescue of casualties and the injured by SCDF, assisted by the CD Lionhearters.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (centre in checkered shirt) with some of the personnel from SPF and SCDF during a dry run of the scenario exercise
Member of NUS CD Lionhearters NUS Computing Year 1 student Andrea Thniah was among those who helped out in the scenario exercise. Despite knowing what to expect, she shared that the initial rehearsal for the exercise was still daunting.
“Even though we are trained, when it comes to a real-life situation, we might freeze, that’s why this exercise is important for the participants,” she said.
She added that students from NUS CD Lionhearters and NUS NPCC are first aid trained. “At least in an emergency we can do some basic first aid, like stop the blood flow, and increase the chances of survival.” Andrea further elaborated that the scenario exercise would also provide observers a useful guide as to the best form of action to be taken in an emergency even in the absence of trained personnel.
The event also featured an exhibition, showcasing the various elements involved in crisis response. Information boards gave an overview of the SGSecure movement, as well as what general members of the public can do in situations of emergency. Visitors to the exhibition also had the opportunity to learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The NUS SGSecure Day was held in tandem with the nation-wide SGSecure movement, launched in 2016, which aims to strengthen the nation’s community vigilance, cohesion and resilience as incidence of global threats rises.
Students from NUS NPCC and NUS CD Lionhearters with an NUS Campus Security staff during the exhibition
