SCDF-SBS Transit “AED-on-Buses Programme” Launch Event – Speech by Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development

Mr Lim Tien Hock, Chief Executive Officer of Bus Business, SBS Transit;

Commissioner Eric Yap, Singapore Civil Defence Force;

Mr Geoffrey Ong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Heart Foundation;

Brothers from the Union;

Ladies and gentlemen;

1. A very good afternoon to all of you.

2. I am very happy to witness today’s “AED-on-Buses” launch event at SBS Transit’s Seletar Bus Depot.

Background of myResponder App and “AED-on-Wheels” Programme

3. Statistics show that without any intervention, such as CPR or the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival decreases by 7 to 10% every minute.

4. The SCDF developed the myResponder app to enhance the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims by bringing the community together in the lifesaving mission. When cardiac arrest cases occur, Community First Responders (CFRs) who are registered users of the myResponder App will be alerted if they are within the vicinity. Through the app, CFRs can locate the nearest AED and proceed to the scene to render assistance through CPR and the use of the AED.

5. The Save-A-Life Initiative, which started in 2015, complements the myResponder App. This initiative enhances community first response to cardiac arrest cases in the residential heartlands by increasing the availability of AEDs.

6. The AED-on-Wheels programme, an extension of the Save-a-Life Initiative, not only equips private-hire vehicles and vehicles in the logistics industry with AEDs, but also trains drivers in lifesaving skills using CPR-AED. Let me give you an example.

Launch of “AED-on-Buses” Programme

7. On 9 June 2023, SBS Transit Bus Captain Jiao Junli noticed a commotion at the bus stop at Blk 65 Corporation Drive. When he went over to take a look, he saw a person performing CPR on an unconscious elderly lady. After confirming that the ambulance was called for, Bus Captain Jiao took over to perform CPR on the lady. When the paramedics arrived, Bus Captain Jiao even assisted to provide them with information of the case and only left the scene after the lady had been conveyed to the hospital.

8. What he had done to help, is very commendable.

9. I want to really thank Bus Captain Jiao, congratulate him and give him a great “Well Done”.

10. Let’s give him a big round of applause.

11. This year, we are honoured to have SBS Transit join us in our life-saving mission through the expansion of the “AED-on-Wheels” programme to include “AED-on-Buses”. With SBS Transit on board the “AED-on-Buses” programme, there will be 56 more vehicles equipped with AEDs on the roads. This brings the total number of vehicles in the AED-on-Wheels programme to 421.

12. In 2023, public buses in Singapore served an average of about 3.7 million commuters per day. In the event of a cardiac arrest emergency onboard a bus, an AED could typically be retrieved from a nearby location, such as a HDB lift lobby, to resuscitate the victim before the arrival of SCDF. However, buses which ply remote locations may not have the immediate access to AEDs. Similarly, CFRs responding to cardiac arrest cases in these areas may face challenges due to the limited availability of AEDs.

13. With the AED-on-Buses programme, the onboard AED can be used by the SBS Transit bus captain or commuters to resuscitate the cardiac arrest victim before SCDF paramedics arrive.

14. In the event that the myResponder app reports a cardiac arrest emergency in the vicinity of an equipped SBS Transit bus, the responding CFR will be notified that an AED is available on the specified bus service number. The CFR can then flag down the approaching bus at the nearest bus stop, retrieve the AED onboard, and swiftly attend to the victim.

15. The AED-on-Buses programme is vital, as participating buses will provide lifesaving assistance while providing transport services to the community. With this initiative, AED accessibility and coverage will be provided to 33,000 bus commuters daily.

16. 53 buses consisting of Services 138, 268 and 851 plying industrial regions and areas with high density of senior citizens, as well as three patrol cars belonging to SBS Transit, will be equipped with AEDs sponsored by the Singapore Heart Foundation. All SBS Transit bus captains participating in the AED-on-Buses programme are CPR-AED trained, where they have learnt how to perform CPR and the use of AEDs on casualties.

17. To SBS Transit and its bus captains, I thank you for taking your time to complete the training and being a part of this programme. You have the heart to take care of fellow human beings, to ensure that people travelling on your services are safe. Together, we strive towards increasing the availability of AEDs across Singapore and ultimately improve the survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases.

Conclusion

18. I want to thank Commissioner Eric for working really hard alongside these officers and all the staff to develop the programme in 2015 and expand it with our partners.

19. Today, I'm happy to share that we are much better prepared as a community.

20. I thank SBS Transit and the Singapore Heart Foundation for making this collaboration possible.

21. I would also like to thank our other valued partners – Temasek Foundation, Singapore Post, Ninja Van, ComfortDelGro, Grab, Strides Premiere and Tote Board for their continued support.

22. I look forward to seeing this programme grow further with more bus and transport companies coming onboard in the future, to expand our outreach to people who really need this.

23. Thank you for having me, and I’m deeply humbled to be able to be part of this programme.