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     NEWS SNIPPETS

     2005

Deaths of SAF Servicemen Due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac death or SCD results from sudden cardiac arrest in a person who is usually in a state of normal health. In other words, the person may not exhibit any warning symptoms or signs prior to the attack.
In the SAF, over the period from 1996 to 2005, for these nine years, there were 19 cases of sudden cardiac deaths, that is about 2.1 cases a year.
Of these, five had collapsed during training; the others were not during training. There is no comparative data for the Singapore male population. However, the National Heart Centre study showed that there were 261 cases of sudden cardiac deaths among the Singapore male population aged 18 to 45 over the period 2001 to 2003, that is over a three year period, or an average of 87 cases per year.
To put the issue in perspective, allow me to share some pertinent information on the chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.
Dr Lim Swee Han, Senior Consultant and Head of the Singapore General Hospital Accident and Emergency Department, reported in a January 2005 paper that there was a 4.1% survival rate in 968 non-trauma cardiac arrest cases in a five year period, from 1994 to 1999.
Dr Marcus Eng Ong Hock, in a cardiac arrest and resuscitation epidemiology study in 2003 reported that from a total of 548 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Singapore, only 2.0% survived to discharge.
Even among patients who suffered cardiac arrest in tertiary hospitals, that is while they were already in hospital where the best care is available, the survival rate to discharge ranged from 18 to 32%, according to studies from various countries. Unfortunately, death as a consequence of cardiac arrest is the most common outcome even with optimal management.
Statement by Minister for Defence Mr Teo Chee Hean in Response to Parliamentary Question on Deaths of SAF Servicemen Due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest - An Excerpt

Full Text of Statement
Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 18 Jul 2005

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Update on Death of SAF Regular Serviceman and Foreign Serviceman
1SG Shiva s/o Mohan from the SAF Commando, and a foreign serviceman were undergoing the Rappelling Instructor Course when they fell while rappelling from the helicopter. The incident happened at 9.11 pm yesterday. The helicopter was hovering about 20 metres above ground. No other serviceman was injured.
The two servicemen were evacuated to the Sembawang Air Base medical centre at 9.23 pm. The doctors stabilised both servicemen in preparation for evacuation to the Singapore General Hospital. The medical evacuation helicopter departed the air base at 10.27 pm and reached the hospital in 7 minutes. The two servicemen were pronounced dead at about 11 pm.
Heli-rappelling training has been suspended, pending the conclusion of the investigation. All other training activities proceed as normal. The SAF is conducting a 2-day safety review of its processes and procedures.
MINDEF and the SAF extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late 1SG Shiva and will be assisting the family in their time of loss. MINDEF is conducting an investigation.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 14 Jul 2005

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Death of SAF Regular Serviceman and Foreign Serviceman
A Singapore Armed Forces regular Commando, 1SG Shiva s/o Mohan, 24, and a foreign serviceman were injured during heliborne training at Sembawang Air Base at 9.11pm on 13 July 05.
They were given immediate medical attention and evacuated to Singapore General Hospital. They were pronounced dead at 11.00pm.
MINDEF is investigating the incident.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 14 Jul 2005

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Red Lion Freefaller Injured
At the NDP rehearsal at 6:15 pm today, a Red Lion freefaller, MSG Chua Koon San, 36, suffered injuries when he had a hard landing at the Padang.
He was immediately evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital. His condition is stable.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 9 Jul 2005

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     - Best units in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

 

Death of a full-time national serviceman

A full-time National Serviceman, 3SG Ong Peng Ghee, 19, passed away this morning at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He was serving as a Section Instructor in the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC).
3SG Ong joined a few of his colleagues in an informal, self-paced jog around BMTC in Pulau Tekong when he collapsed at around 0845hrs. He was given immediate medical attention and was evacuated by helicopter to SGH at about 0927hrs. He passed away at 1026hrs.
MINDEF and the SAF extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late 3SG Ong and will be assisting the family in their time of loss. MINDEF is conducting an investigation.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 29 Jun 2005

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Death of a regular serviceman

A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular serviceman, Second Warrant Officer (2WO) Teh Kok Lian, 39, collapsed during a routine run in Jurong Camp on 22 Jun 05 at 8.45am. He was given immediate medical attention by the medics on site and evacuated to National University Hospital at about 9am. He passed away at 9.40am.
MINDEF and the SAF extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late 2WO Teh and will be assisting the family in their time of loss. MINDEF is conducting an investigation.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 22 Jun 2005

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Death of a regular serviceman

A Singapore Armed Forces regular serviceman, 2SG Ong Jia Hui, 24, was discovered missing during training in the waters of Changi Naval Base. An immediate search was conducted and he was recovered. He was given immediate medical attention before being evacuated to Changi General Hospital. He passed away at 6.59pm.
MINDEF was investigating the incident.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 15 Jun 2005

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Subsequent Update
Update on Death of a Regular Serviceman
2SG Ong Jia Hui, a 24 year old regular Army specialist, was discovered missing at about 1740hrs on 15 Jun 05 while undergoing special operations training in the waters of Changi Naval Base. A safety diver, who was on standby as part of the safety precautions put in place for such training, was immediately activated. The diver found 2SG Ong at around 1745hrs. He was given immediate medical treatment at the Changi Naval Base medical centre before being evacuated to Changi General Hospital at about 1810hrs. He was pronounced dead at 1859hrs.
MINDEF and the Army extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late 2SG Ong Jia Hui, and will be assisting the family in their time of loss. MINDEF is investigating the incident.

Source: www.mindef.gov.sg News Release 16 Jun 2005

 

     2004

Findings on RSAF F16C crash in Arizona

The HBOI has completed its investigations and concluded that the incident was attributable solely to human factor. The late LTA Loo could have experienced gravity-induced loss of consciousness or spatial disorientation, which resulted in his inability to recover the aircraft from an inverted position.

The incident was not a result of negligence or foul play on the part of the late LTA Loo or any other person. The cause of LTA Loo’s death was multiple blunt force injuries as a result of the crash.

Source: Mindef News Release 30 Aug 2004

 

     - National Service cut to 2 years from December 2004 batch

 

     - RSAF F16 crashes in the US, pilot dies

 

     - Three fugitives on Pulau Tekong captured

 

 

An SAF soldier was seriously injured when a bullet jammed in the chamber of a machine gun exploded while the weapon was being checked on 24 Feb 2004. Three other full-time national servicemen who were slightly injured were treated as outpatients. (Straits Times 26 Feb 2004) (H3)

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