Years ago, Isakkipandian Gurusamy stood by and watched while a man collapsed in front of him. Watching a first aid provider assist the patient inspired Isakkipandian to volunteer with the Singapore Red Cross and get trained in first aid. He has volunteered in many capacities, but has found his greatest fulfilment by volunteering as a first aider.

One life-changing moment in an MRT station was all it took to convince Isakkipandian Gurusamy, 38, to volunteer with the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). 

In 2017, Isakkipandian was standing on an MRT platform awaiting a train, when he saw an old man collapse in front of him. Isakkipandian was not trained in first aid and despite feeling compelled to help however possible, there was nothing he could do to help the man. However, Isakkipandian recalls that an SRC-certified first aider stepped up, performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the man with chest compressions, bringing him back to consciousness right on the MRT platform. The first aider was instrumental in keeping the man alive before the ambulance arrived.

That eye-opening experience inspired Isakkipandian to learn first aid skills and volunteer with the SRC and improve the lives of others, marking the onset of Isakkipandian’s volunteering journey with the SRC.

Volunteering in Different Capacities

Isakkipandian started off as a general volunteer with the Singapore Red Cross in June 2017. Over the years, he has participated in numerous events, ranging from promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities within society, representing the Red Cross Home for the disabled contingent in the Purple Parade, to volunteering as a Blood Buddy mascot for the World Blood Donor Day in 2018. He also took part in the Tahiti Dance for a Humanitarian Conference in 2018.

Out of all these experiences, he says his most memorable moments are from when he volunteered in key events such as Project R.I.C.E+, the Humanitarian Conference and the Charity Gala Dinner. 

Isakkipandian fondly reminisces about being involved with the logistics of Project R.I.C.E+, a nation-wide project spearheaded by youth in 2018. On top of garnering public support, Project R.I.C.E+ distributes food and daily essentials to families in straitened circumstances, and the elderly. 

"I spent considerable time visiting family centres and packing the food for delivery," he shares. 

He also volunteered as a mentor for a Singapore Humanitarian Youth Summit / Peer-to-Peer Symposium that Red Cross Youth organised at the SMU in 2018. 

"As a mentor, I shared with the youth about ways they could interact and help drug and alcohol addicts around them," he says.

In 2018, Isakkipandian volunteered to support the logistics of the Charity Gala Dinner 'Music for Humanity' aimed at raising funds for SRC's local humanitarian work, including benefitting persons with disabilities and the elderly.

"I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with high-profile names, including the President of Singapore who attended the event as the Guest-of-Honour" he recalls.

Volunteering as a First Aider 

After volunteering for a few months, Isakkipandian was inspired to become a trained first aid volunteer, as that was his calling that inspired him to join SRC in the first place. He attended and completed the Standard First Aid course and was certified as a first aider by the Singapore Red Cross Academy. Armed with the certification, Isakkipandian immediately started volunteering as a first aider. He provided first aid coverage at community events at the National University of Singapore and YMCA. He also volunteered as part of the First Aider on Wheels team, manning the first aid post and providing first aid treatments to those in need at East Coast Park and Pulau Ubin on weekends and public holidays.

"Some people were involved in accidents while taking part in outdoor activities," he says.

Isakkipandian also spent a year volunteering as a first aider at the monthly West Coast CC Cycling sessions. Throughout 2018, he worked closely with the cyclists participating in the sessions to ensure their well-being. 

Becoming a Volunteer Leader

After spending a considerable amount of time volunteering for SRC across a diverse range of events, Isakkipandian, an executive urban planner in the architecture and planning sector, was nominated to become a volunteer leader. To grasp the skills to become volunteer team leader, he attended almost seven weeks of training over weekends from November 2021 to January 2022. 

As a volunteer leader, things were not always smooth sailing for Isakkipandian. The logistical challenges he had to untangle were close to insurmountable. Not all his volunteers could make it on time, and it was difficult to find replacements at short notice. Isakkipandian persisted, rallying the remaining volunteers to put in extra effort to stand in for those who could not make it. 

"Volunteering has broadened my network while providing me with great learning experience; I have acquired crucial life-saving skills. I have also gained tremendous satisfaction knowing that I have helped others," he says.

By Shruthi Sudheendra, Volunteer
Copyedited by Shayan Amin, Volunteer