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| From
ideas to reality |
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| By
attaching a camera to the SCDF Rescue
Dog, officers can conduct search and
rescue operations more effectively. |
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Even
though the Innoventure Scheme has been in place
for less than two years, the Singapore Civil Defence
Force (SCDF) has seen the successful completion
of several projects, while others are undergoing
trial testing.
Tested and proven
One successful idea is the WaterMist Gun (WMG 160),
which received funding from The Enterprise Challenge.
Completed in July 2002, the WMG 160 works by converting
water into mist. So instead of shooting a jet of
water as conventional nozzles do, the WMG 160 releases
a fine spray of mist. Not only does the WMG 160
help to save water, it also extinguishes household
fires more quickly, avoids property damage by water,
and conserves property for fire investigation purposes.
This innovation has already proven its efficiency
in numerous fire incidents in Singapore.
Projects funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs
include the Canine Camera and the RECCE Camera,
just to name a few.
The Canine Camera idea creatively binds technology
with man’s best friend - in this case the
SCDF Rescue Dog. This innovation introduces a whole
new way of conducting search and rescue operations.
On the other hand, the RECCE Camera can be mounted
on the cages of aerial appliances to facilitate
more accurate observations of the rapidly changing
situation at the site of the incident. This also
allows ground commanders to deploy forces with greater
effectiveness.
Last year, the SCDF received the coveted Eureka
Award from SPRING Singapore for its revolutionary
means of conducting swift decontamination during
incidents involving hazardous materials. The innovation
involves retrofitting conventional fire engines
with decontamination facilities - a concept that
no other fire service has adopted.
Modifications have since been made to 30 fire engines.
While it previously took eight men about 20 minutes
to set up a decontamination unit at an incident
site, it now requires just four men to set up similar
facilities within three minutes. This project was
developed and funded under the Innoventure Scheme.
Projects under trial
Used by ambulance crew, the Stretcher Glide is a
stair-stretcher for transporting casualties down
flights of stairs swiftly, safely and conveniently.
Another innovation, the Smart Mannequin, is the
result of a collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
This is an electronic mannequin that depicts near-realistic
“symptoms” and “injuries”.
As a medical training tool, it requires paramedic
trainees to exercise their assessment abilities
as well pre-hospital patient-management skills.
Another proposal with potential for success is the
Fire Extinguishing Grenade, a joint project between
SCDF and Singapore Technologies. This innovation
is based on the concept of using grenades to “launch”
pyrogen, the extinguishing medium, into the heart
of a fire to extinguish it. This project is still
currently in the developmental stage. |
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| Used
for training, this electronic mannequin depicts
near-realistic symptoms and injuries. |
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| By
CPT Alvin Tan, Chief Innovation Officer, SCDF
Next: Mission possible:
SCDF ventures into innovation |
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