Singapore Heart Foundation adds 20,000 Face Masks and Hand Sanitisers to AED Cabinets to keep Community First Responders safe

MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Publication

     Singapore Heart Foundation adds 20,000 Face Masks and Hand
    Sanitisers to AED Cabinets to keep Community First Responders
                                  safe

Singapore, 16 October 2020 – In conjunction with the World Restart a Heart Day
today, Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force
(SCDF) launched an initiative to provide face masks and hand sanitiser sachets at
10,000 publicly accessible AED cabinets across the nation. SHF will contribute 20,000
face masks and hand sanitiser sachets to protect Community First-Responders (CFRs)
when they attend to cardiac arrest incidents during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, there were more than 3,300 1 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Singapore.
Every minute that passes reduces a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival by 7 to
10%. The annual commemoration of World Restart a Heart Day aims to sustain
awareness of the need to learn CPR+AED skills, so that if the need arises, bystanders
can render help quickly. With cardiovascular disease being one of the top causes of
death in Singapore, CFRs are crucial to the survival of victims of cardiac arrest.

“Singapore Heart Foundation wants to not only encourage people to step up and
become community first-responders, but at the same time ensure that these heroes
stay safe when they assist in cardiac arrest incidents. Last year, over 60,000 people
were CPR+AED trained in Singapore2. We hope that by adding face masks and hand
sanitisers into the publicly accessible AED cabinets across Singapore, we can help to
dispel any fear that the public may have about the spread of COVID-19 and encourage
bystanders to continue to help save lives,” said Mr Vernon Kang, Chief Executive
Officer, Singapore Heart Foundation.

    “SCDF activates the CFRs via the myResponder mobile app for suspected cardiac
cases. Their timely interventions have made, and will continue to make a positive
difference during life and death situations. We know the current COVID-19 situation

1
    Singapore Civil Defence Force
2
    https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.120.017230

may raise concerns amongst CFRs about their personal safety when they respond to
cardiac arrest cases. We have therefore advised all CFRs to perform chest-
compressions-only CPR and to put on a mask when doing so. We are heartened that
many CFRs are still actively responding to suspected cardiac arrest cases. I hope that
the placement of the face masks and hand sanitisers in the publicly accessible AED
cabinets will ease any concerns and reinforce our commitment to ensure their personal
safety,” said AC Yazid Abdullah, Director, Volunteer and Community Partnership
Department, Singapore Civil Defence Force.

For advisory on the safety precautions to take when performing CPR during this
pandemic period, please visit www.myheart.org.sg/cpr-covid19.

Virtual CPR+AED training initiatives
In addition to this initiative, SHF has also adapted its CPR+AED certification course
and complimentary non-certification training amid the pandemic, leveraging digital
platforms.

The CPR+AED certification course is now conducted in a blended learning format
where participants learn the theory of CPR+AED online before going into the physical
classroom for the hands-on session and assessment. This reduces the amount of time
that trainees need to be physically in class. From July 2020 to date, more than 200
participants have been certified through this blended learning programme.

From October 2020 onwards, the complimentary non-certification “Restart A Heart”
programme will also be conducted via online video conferencing for groups of people
larger than 20. Even though trainees will not be practicing on an actual manikin, they
will be taught how to put together their own homemade manikins using everyday
household items, so that they can practise hands-on CPR at home. Five companies
have already signed up for this pilot virtual programme. These participating companies
will receive 3 sets of CPR 3A kits 3, which their staff can use to practise CPR.

3
    https://www.myheart.org.sg/shf-cpr-3a-kit/

“The virtual Restart A Heart programme was very engaging, interlaced with Zoom polls
and hands-on activities led by the friendly instructors for us participants to take part in,
albeit remotely. Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) adopted innovative ways to make
learning fun and memorable. We were taught how to make a DIY manikin to practice
CPR – simply by using items we already have in our homes. Also, we learnt how to
correctly count the chest compressions when performing CPR. The hour-long
programme was informational and educational and will definitely come in handy in
times of emergencies. Kudos to SHF and its instructors for equipping us with important
life-saving skills!” said Mr Mark Mah, Executive Director, Singapore Federation of
Chinese Clan Associations.

“Sudden cardiac arrest cases happen with or without COVID-19, and 80% of these
incidents happen out of hospital, i.e. at home or in public places. If the person nearest
to the casualty can perform CPR and AED immediately when cardiac arrest strikes,
the casualty’s chance of survival will double. For this reason, the Singapore Heart
Foundation believes that it is critical to continue imparting these essential life-saving
skills even during this pandemic,” said Mr Kang.

Since 2016, SCDF has also conducted the ‘Community Emergency Preparedness
Programme’ (CEPP) online module one, which includes lessons on Improvised First
Aid Skills (IFAS) Plus and Fire Safety. In August this year, SCDF rolled out the CEPP
online module two which includes lessons on CPR-AED, first aid, basic firefighting and
SGSecure. To date, more than 32,000 individuals have participated in SCDF’s CEPP
online modules that also include online quizzes.

For more information about the Singapore Heart Foundation CPR+AED certification
course as well as other courses and programmes available, please visit
www.myheart.org.sg/learn.

For more information about the SCDF’s CEPP online modules, please visit
https://go.gov.sg/cepp.

                                       ## END ##

About Singapore Heart Foundation

The Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) is a social service organisation at the forefront of the
battle against heart diseases in Singapore. Since its inception in 1970, the Foundation is
constantly promoting good heart health via life-saving and community outreach programmes
so as to prevent cardiovascular disease later in life. At the same time, the Foundation also
provides cardiac rehabilitation services to recovering heart patients and at-risk individuals, as
well as financial assistance for needy heart patients through the SHF's Heart Support Fund.
For more information, visit www.myheart.org.sg.

About Singapore Civil Defence Force

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is a uniformed organisation under the purview of
the Ministry of Home Affairs. The main role of SCDF is to provide fire-fighting, rescue and
emergency medical services; mitigating hazardous materials incidents, as well as formulate,
implement and enforce regulations on fire safety and civil defence shelter matters. For more
information, visit www.scdf.gov.sg.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Asia PR Werkz

 Mr Mark Juan                                    Ms Julie Chiang
 H/P: +65 9005 3361                              H/P: +65 9009 5781
 Email: mark@asiaprwerkz.com                     Email: julie@asiaprwerkz.com

Singapore Civil Defence Force

 LTA Lina Chan
 H/P: +65 9363 6311
 Email: Lina_CHAN@scdf.gov.sg