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SCDF increases ambulance fleet

In response to the increasing number of emergency calls, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has ordered 18 new emergency ambulances as part of its fleet renewal programme and will also bring on board 10 more ambulances later this year.

In response to the increasing number of emergency calls, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has ordered 18 new emergency ambulances as part of its fleet renewal programme and will also bring on board 10 more ambulances later this year.

The SCDF responded to 142,549 emergency ambulance service calls last year, up from 131,806 calls in 2011.

Currently, it has 46 emergency ambulances in its fleet and can call on 10 ambulances from the private operators.

The SCDF added that its “995” operators will be undergoing enhanced medical training to enable them to identify patients with cardiac arrest quickly, as well as to coach callers to start compression-only CPR and other medical instructions to help victims before help arrives.

Said Chief Medical Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Ng Yih Yng: “Giving instructions is sometimes a bit challenging because of the emergency situation and I think people are not always used to having so many questions asked in an emergency. We do get public who are a little impatient.

“But we want to stress to the public to bear with (the 995 operators), answer them and follow instructions, because these instructions can save lives.” DESIREE TAY

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