SCDF medic
answers call for help -- only to get punched in the
face
Koh Yufeng
The New Paper
Thursday, Aug 29, 2015
First, vulgarities were hurled at him. Then, he got punched in
the face.
This was what Corporal Arun Raj Manivannan endured just six
months into his national service as a medical orderly with the
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). And all he did was answer a
call for help.
More Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel were abused in
the first six months of this year compared to the same period last
year.
And the SCDF warns anyone who lays a finger on these lifesavers
will be dealt with severely.
On Feb 13, Cpl Arun Raj, 20, and Staff Sergeant Yao Hong Bin,
27, found a man near the basement toilet of Jurong Point Shopping
Centre, who was complaining of discomfort.
The 57-year-old man was verbally abusive, hurling vulgarities at
a security guard.
Although he was cooperative and agreed to be put on a stretcher,
the man turned on the paramedics as they placed him onto the gurney
and took him to the ambulance.
He continued his tirade as the ambulance drove away from the
mall towards the National University Hospital.
As Cpl Arun Raj tried to take the man's blood pressure, the man
jerked back his right arm and punched him square on his right
cheek.
SSG Yao immediately told the ambulance driver to stop before
calling the police.
Cpl Arun Raj was given three days' medical leave and his
attacker was sentenced to 10 months' jail on June 29.
Cpl Arun Raj said he was no stranger to verbal abuse and
credited this to his past working experience as an inline skating
instructor and a lifeguard. But the punch took him by surprise.
He said: "I was shocked and, of course, I was angry. But as a
public servant, we have our own rules. So I just kept calm and
patient."
Cpl Arun Raj and SSG Yao are not the only EMS personnel who have
been abused by patients and patients' relatives and friends.
Increase
In a statement released on Tuesday on its midyear statistics,
the SCDF said there were 10 such cases between January and June
this year.
This is four more than the six reported cases over the same
period last year and includes verbal abuse, physical abuse or
both.
Such assailants pay a heavy price as anyone who verbally abuses
a public servant on duty can be jailed up to a year or fined up to
$5,000.
Those who voluntarily cause hurt to a public servant on duty can
be jailed up to seven years, fined, caned, or a combination of the
three.
Two other offenders received stern warnings while the remaining
cases are still pending.
SCDF said in the statement that it does not condone any forms of
physical or verbal abuse against its personnel and will report any
abuse to the police.
Chief Medical Officer Ng Yih Yng said that SCDF's EMS provides
critical emergency care to patients in need of medical
attention.
He said: "Threatening or abusing the EMS personnel would not
only delay medical treatment but also put the patient at risk,
especially in the event of a medical emergency."
Cpl Arun Raj, who went back to work after his medical leave, is
not giving up.
He said: "Singaporeans look up to us. When they need medical
assistance, they call the SCDF. Nothing has changed. I still feel
like I need to be there for the people who are looking for us to
help them."
SCDF's mid-year report also highlighted an increase in the
number of non-emergency calls made.
Although they made up only 4.2 per cent of all calls SCDF has
responded to, the number of such calls more than doubled over the
same period:from 1,465 between January to June last year to 3,453
this year.
These calls place an unnecessary strain on resources and deprive
those who are in genuine need of emergency medical assistance, said
the SCDF.
While there is no fee imposed for emergency cases, $274 will be
charged for each non-emergency patient taken to hospital by the
SCDF.