The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is the Life Saving Force. To fulfil its mission to protect and save lives and property for a safe and secure Singapore, the SCDF constantly improves its operational capabilities, ensuring that it is ready to respond swiftly and effectively to any emergency.
The SCDF is an independent uniformed organisation established under the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1986. Whether it’s firefighting, providing rescue and emergency medical services, mitigating hazardous materials incidents, or regulating on fire safety and civil defence shelter matters, they all fall under the purview of the SCDF.
ButThe SCDF consists of a professional body of well-trained officers who are ready to leap into action at a moment’s notice to respond to all types of life-threatening emergencies. Beyond its duties on the frontline, the SCDF also actively engages the local community through public educational programmes and community-based activities to help create a prepared and resilient civilian population that is capable of handling any untoward eventualities.
If you pursue a career with the SCDF, you will be joining the ranks of an elite team of professionals who are entrusted with the duty of safeguarding our nation’s stability. You will be making a difference in the lives of Singaporeans. We speak with 26-year-old Paramedic Specialist SSG Yeo Ren Jie who tells us all about his fulfilling career at SCDF.
Serving a Noble Cause
Whether it’s fulfilling fire-fighting or rescue and emergency ambulance services, all officers of the SCDF work together to carry out SCDF’s mission unwaveringly – to protect and save lives and property.
It is this noble goal that drew SSG Yeo to the organisation. He explains, “While I was in polytechnic, I joined the Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit (CDAU). It’s basically a programme that provides residents with the avenue to volunteer their services in civil defence roles. That was when I got interested in becoming a paramedic.
“There’s just this adrenaline rush you get while you’re on duty – every day is different and you go into work not knowing what to expect. More importantly though is the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. There’s almost nothing more gratifying than being able to get a pulse back from someone who has gone into cardiac arrest.”
As a Paramedic Specialist, SSG Yeo plays a critical role by bringing medical care to patients at the point of emergency. They are comprehensively trained to provide pre-hospital emergency care to patients who are severely injured or ill. Calm and composed, SSG Yeo goes into detail, “We are trained to be well-versed in advanced airway management and emergency drugs administration. Paramedic Specialists in SCDF are certified as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) practitioners and recognised by the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), an education body internationally recognised for its high standards.
“At SCDF, we undergo rigorous training to exemplify our top-notch emergency ambulance service. We learn how to initiate medical protocols and administer drugs to stabilise the condition of patients while quickly conveying them to hospitals for emergency treatment. In short, we bring the emergency department to patients in critical conditions.”
SSG Yeo Ren Jie
Paramedic Specialist,
Marina Bay Fire Station
Studying Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design,
National University of Singapore
Diploma in Product and Industrial Design,
Temasek Polytechnic
“You’ll receive support in what you do as long as you show that you’re eager in helping the organisation grow. So don’t be afraid to join us!”
Opportunities for Growth and Development
SSG Yeo graduated from Temasek Polytechnic with a Diploma in Product and Industrial Design in 2008 and joined the SCDF as a full-time paramedic shortly after. But despite pursuing a career that’s seemingly unrelated to his course of study, SSG Yeo did not have to forsake his passion for design. “I thought I had to give up on industrial design to be a paramedic. But during the course of my career, I found many opportunities to apply industrial design in the SCDF.”
MAJ Zhou adds that his Mechanical Engineering degree also provides him with the technical knowledge and expertise in being able to converse with industry partners on a familial level. He adds, “My peers and I in the SCDF often share our case experiences with one another, which is a tremendous help.”
Fulfilling more than the responsibilities of a paramedic specialist, SSG Yeo is able to put his creative thinking and design skills to good use as a designer. He enthusiastically shares, “There are plenty of innovative projects in SCDF. I’ve been involved in evolving the interior design of three ambulances! SCDF values innovation and I feel empowered that I am able to merge cutting-edge technology with design to enhance the usability of our ambulances.”
The SCDF is committed to developing their officers to their full potential by providing opportunities for professional development and growth. In SSG Yeo’s case, his talent was recognised because of his involvement with the ambulance design projects. Put through the Home Affairs Learning and Growth Opportunities (HALO) programme, he was awarded with an undergraduate sponsorship at a local university which allowed him to study full-time while still drawing a full-time salary.
SSG Yeo, who is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design at the National University of Singapore under the HALO Programme, looks forward to honing his design skills and returning to SCDF as a Senior Officer, where he can continue to use his creative ideas and skills for the betterment of SCDF.
He muses, “I never imagined that I’d ever get the chance to bring my twin passions together - designing and saving lives in the field.”
Bright Horizons
Even after being with SCDF for about seven years, SSG Yeo’s dedication has not died down. He looks forward to the day of his graduation so that he can fully commit to his duties in the force.
“I hope to further my career in the medical department and help improve its capabilities. Right now, there are plans to improve the ambulances further and I hope to contribute to the policy making and design aspects,” he tells us excitedly.
For people who aspire to join the SCDF, SSG Yeo advises, “Come in with an open mind. You’ll find that there are many opportunities to explore what you’re interested in. Just keep in mind that you’ll receive support in what you do as long as you show that you’re eager in helping the organisation grow. So don’t be afraid to join us!"
