Speech By Senior Minister Of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor At The “Think Health, Live Well” Health Carnival, 15 March 2015 At ITE College Central

Ms. Joanna Portilla, PBM, Chairperson, Ang Mo Kio CC Women's Executive Committee,

Dr. Ang Kiam Wee, Principal, ITE College Central,

Mr Ang Hak Seng, BBM, Chief Executive Director, People’s Association,

Ms Catherine Goh, PBM, Chairperson, Anchorvale CC Women's Executive Committee,

Mr. Justin Foo, BBM, Chairman, C2E Council EXCO,

Mr Tok Hock Soon, Director, Emergency Preparedness Division,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, All our friends from Ang Mo Kio Division,

Good Morning.

2.         I am pleased to join you this morning for the “Think Health, Live Well” Health Carnival co-organised by Ang Mo Kio & Anchorvale WEC, ITE College Central, C2E Council EXCO and the Singapore Heart Foundation.

3.         At the mention of ‘cardiac arrest’, many people may think that it would only happen to the elderly. However, the fact is that it can happen to anyone of us, anyone of any age, anywhere and anytime.

4.          Sudden cardiac death is a major cause of mortality in Singapore and the rest of the world. Each year, it is estimated that 1800 people suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Singapore, where only 3% survived. Approximately 6 out of 10 such cardiac arrests happen to victims in the presence of someone they know – family, friends, and colleagues. Majority of the victims do not receive any form of life-saving aid until paramedics arrive.

5.         As chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims increase greatly if CPR and defibrillation are administered within the first four minutes of collapse, it is imperative to train and encourage the community, to learn how to administer CPR and use the AED.

AED machines are now commonly available in many public places, Community Centres/Clubs, shopping centres, offices, schools and institutions, for example at AMK ITE Central here.

6.         When an emergency occurs, the people in the best position to initiate the first line of care would usually be the family members, neighbours, co-workers or passers-by. You would never know when you would need these life-saving skills. We should learn to employ these skills promptly when the need arises, as it would make a difference between life and death for the victims

7.         I am heartened to note that we have in our group today some 300 senior citizens, and I understand there is someone here as old as 90 years old or reaching 90 years old. And there are also many of you from the “One Care Zone”, an elderly activity centre in Ang Mo Kio – all of you are eager to learn more about CPR and AED.

You embody the spirit of lifelong learning, and show us that it is never too late to learn life-saving skills. I think all of you are an inspiration to us and the younger generation, the ITE students here. Even though this set of skills which you are acquiring, may not be required now, you may end up saving the lives of your loved ones in times of need.

8.         I am also thankful to the 150 ITE student volunteers, who are trained and certified in CPR and AED by the People’s Association Emergency Preparedness Division, who are here to render their assistance to the senior citizens, teach them how to do CPR and use the AED. This will help promote deeper interactions and bridge the younger and older generations.

9.         I hope all our senior citizens, after participating in the mass CPR today, would continue to practise CPR on your manikin, which will be given to you as a souvenir. Bring it home and practise on it as the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect”, so that when you need it, you know how to use it.  

If you wish to receive certified training in CPR and AED, you may approach any of the Community Centres/Clubs under PA, which are offering the life-saving courses under the Community First Responder Programme by the PA’s Emergency Preparedness Division. The “One Care Zone” will also be working with PA’s Emergency Preparedness Division to organise certification courses for the senior citizens who are interested in CPR and AED after attending the awareness training today. These courses will commence as early as this month.

10.       And finally, to everyone here, thank you for attending the Health Carnival today. I hope that you will go for all the screenings arranged for you and continue to stay active and eat healthily. I wish all of you a wonderful time here, learning how to do CPR and AED, get to meet friends as well as learn more about healthy living, and get yourself screened if you have not done that for this year.  

Thank you very much.