News

It was distressing to read about the mass food poisoning incident at the One Raffles Quay office of Tiktok’s parent company ByteDance ( July 30). The fast response and operational readiness of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was also on full display. SCDF personnel, ambulances, fire engines and a decontamination vehicle were speedily deployed as a contingency measure to address the mass casualty event in case victims needed to go through a decontamination process to remove any traces of harmful substances, as well as to provide manpower for casualty evacuation. When people talk about total defence, it usually conjures up images of soldiers and policemen protecting the nation. In fact, SCDF personnel are on the front lines every day risking their lives battling fires, rescuing people, handling hazardous materials and providing medical treatment and casualty evacuation like in the case of this mass food poisoning incident. As National Day approaches, we must show more appreciation for our brave SCDF personnel who labour tirelessly around the clock to keep our nation safe.