When Toh Hui Li was young, she saw volunteers who solicited donations. That encounter sparked her aspiration to volunteer. She started volunteering by organising blood drives at her polytechnic. Subsequently, she has been volunteering as a First Aider on Wheels and a Community FirstAider with the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) providing first aid treatments to people in need. As we commemorate World First Aid Day, Hui Li shares her experiences and the fulfilment she has gained from volunteering as a first aider.

Toh Hui Li, 24, still recollects her first encounter with the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) volunteers who solicited donations when she was a child. Intrigued, she asked her parents what the volunteers were doing. Her father explained that volunteers help people who needed support. At that moment, she realised her aspiration to contribute as a volunteer when she grew up. She understood that a small gesture could make a difference in someone’s life.

Putting First Aid Skills into Practice

Hui Li embarked on her volunteering journey with the SRC when she organised blood donation drives during her polytechnic days. Subsequently, she started volunteering as a First Aider on Wheels (FAOW) volunteer, where she patrols along East Coast Park and Pulau Ubin on weekends to provide first aid treatments to park-goers in need. 

She recounted an instance where she attended to a lady at East Coast Park who was severely injured. The lady was bleeding profusely from a laceration on her head after a collision between a bicycle and an e-scooter. 

As Hui Li was at the scene, she swiftly swung into action by cleaning the wound and bandaging the casualty’s head before the ambulance arrived. This highlighted the importance of safety and first aid training, especially when engaging in outdoor activities.

Ensuring the Well-Being of Spectators at NDP

Besides volunteering as a First Aider on Wheels volunteer, Hui Li, an undergraduate, also volunteers as a first aider at the National Day Parades (NDP). As a volunteer first aider at the recent NDP celebrating Singapore's 57th birthday, her primary role was to keep a sharp eye on people who might need first aid assistance. 

“Due to the large crowds and celebratory spirit, people would often be in a hurry, which may cause them to either trip or miss a step. We remind people to mind their steps," she points out.

While the NDP looked seamless and well-choreographed, much preparation went behind the scenes. The first aiders attended rehearsals every weekend for two months. Besides identifying every possible hazard that might occur, the first aiders also explored ways they could prevent accidents from occurring, and provide first aid treatments to spectators in need. 

It was physically taxing as they had to stand for several hours at a stretch before getting a break. 

“Although we were there at the parade the entire time, we rarely had the opportunity to watch the performances. It was our duty to be on full alert," she said. 

Finding Fulfilment Through Volunteering

It has been four years since Hui Li started volunteering with the SRC, and there is no stopping her. 

“It’s been an interesting journey. Over time, it is not just about helping people. Through our interactions with volunteers from different programmes, we gain much exposure and soft skills as well."

Volunteering as a first aider keeps her life-saving skills in top shape. 

“If I don't practise first aid, my skills may become rusty,” she quips. 

In fact, she recounted an incident when she herself was a casualty after falling, and was immediately attended to by another first aider. She reiterates that first aid is an essential life skill which could help someone in need at a critical time.

She has seen many who have matured and become better people when they engage in volunteer work.

“Volunteering has a significant effect in shaping one’s character.” 

At the end of the day, the heartfelt gratitude made her efforts worthwhile. She shared that her greatest fulfilment was when a child had thanked her with a radiant smile, beaming from ear to ear!

“It is very meaningful and fulfilling when you help others," expresses Hui Li. 

By Sourik Sinha, Volunteer
Copyedited by Kimberly Seah, Volunteer