• 5-hour¹ certifiable course imparts essential first aid and CPR skills
• Public training now available at Singapore Red Cross Academy

Singapore, 17 January 2016 – To mark National Life Saving Day, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean today launched Singapore’s first certifiable *Citizen First Responder Training Programme in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, where 400 residents received the first Citizen First Responder certification.

Pioneered by the National Resuscitation Council and the National First Aid Council, the 5-hour¹ skills-based training programme covers Citizen First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation & Automated External Defibrillator (CPR+AED). The organisations encourage people who would not otherwise attend the usual 24-hour first aid programmes, to pick up lifesaving skills.

“You have taken this important step to empower yourselves to save lives in the community, at work, and in public places. Please share with your family and friends, the importance of learning life-saving skills, so that we can train even more citizen first responders. Together, we can promote self-help, care for one another, and make Singapore a more resilient community” said DPM Teo, who was Guest-of-Honour at the launch event at the Pasir Ris Sports & Recreation Centre.

“To achieve a state of one first aider in every home, we need to train at least 500,000 people annually. People may be deterred and not come forward to be first aid trained owing to the long duration of traditional such courses. The Citizen First Responders Training Programme will provide our community the ability to perform the required actions for the most common time-critical medical emergencies,” said Prof V. Anantharaman, Chairman, National Resuscitation Council.

“The Singapore Red Cross is pleased to be the first to make available the Citizen First Responder training to the community. The National First Aid Council, together with the National Resuscitation Council, aim to train large segments of the population in lifesaving skills. We need to work towards greater involvement of our citizens in this training so that we can become a society where first response by the community is a norm,” said Mr Benjamin William, Honorary Secretary of National First Aid Council, and Secretary General/CEO of Singapore Red Cross.

With instructors facilitating practical training, the Citizen First Responders course trains participants in the use of contents of a first-aid kit and initial actions to be carried out on-site when dealing with eight common time-critical situations, such as fainting, shock & unconsciousness, and stroke. A short theory and practical test at the end of the session rounds up the programme. Public can register for training at the Singapore Red Cross Academy here.

At the event today, DPM Teo also presented Survivor Awards to 22 community citizens and 1 group (Sport Singapore) who have helped survivors of cardiac arrest at the 3rd Survivor Awards Ceremony.

“Every year, nearly 3,000 people die from coronary heart disease or heart attack in Singapore, with about half of these people collapsing before they can reach a hospital. Knowledge, skills and willingness to act will increase the chances of survival and recovery for these people. Together we can build a more resilient society where everyone is equipped with skills to save lives,“ said Prof V. Anantharaman.

*See Annex A for more information on the Citizen First Responders course.

Annex A
A five-hour¹ course, the Citizen First Aid Programme has two main components – the CPR+AED course and the Citizen First Aid Course. It teaches the use of contents of a First-Aid box and initial actions to be carried out on-site when dealing with 8 common time-critical situations, viz. fainting, shock & unconsciousness, stroke, breathlessness, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, bleeding, burns and fractures. The focus is on hands-on skills-based teaching with instructors facilitating maximal practical training. A short theory and practical test at the end of the session rounds up the program. The participants are certified as Citizen First responders on successful completion of the program.

You may register for the course here.

¹ With effect from August 2016, the course duration is now seven hours.