This week, something surprising and shocking was reported in the news. A coroner's court on Monday (for the death of Private Dominique Sarron Lee who passed away in April 2012) heard that combat medics of the SAF are not "fully equipped to handle asthma attacks among SAF servicemen".
Yes, you did not read that wrongly. SAF's medical personnel are not adequately skilled to administer asthma attacks. This incident totally contradicts with what the SAF has always been prided for. It cares for soldiers and is always watching out for us.
The training which Pte Dominique underwent includes the use of smoke grenades yet medical equipment which are potentially useful like Ventolin, an inhaler for asthma attacks, were not present. What? They can't even do such a simple yet crucial thing? How can parents whose sons will serve National Service in the future trust SAF to take good care of them?
The court was told by the platoon commander for the exercise that he threw extra grenades as there was no wind on that day to create the required foggy conditions. He had more than the usual amount of grenades issued to him as another troop was absent. Give you more means must throw more meh? Don't you know that your man, who is wearing a blue wristband, has a medical history?
This isn't the first time that Mindef and SAF's medical corps have appeared in the news for negative reasons this year. The debate on whether an electrocardiogram check was sufficient for the pre-enlistment check-up rages on.
Mindef argues that a more expensive test would not have detected the heart defect of specialist cadet Ee Chun Sheng, who was another NS casualy last year. Some doctors urged the use of echocardiogram machine instead of the ECG machine used by Mindef while others believe that there isn't a need to utilize them.
Whatever it is, those of us who have served/are serving National Service in the SAF will know how efficient, reliable and responsible it really is. Just admit it even if you are most loyal regular.
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