The peace and security Singapore enjoys sometimes makes it easy to forget the military personnel involved in the running of the country, be it national serviceman or regulars.

That's why it's always good to hear stories about how important these oft-forgotten group of Singaporeans truly are.

On April 20, 3SG Syazwan and LTA Aravin had just finished up a military exercise, and were heading back to camp when they came across an unconscious lady lying by Lim Chu Kang Road.

Here's the Facebook post detailing their heroics.

For those who can't view the post, here's what was written about the incident.

On 20 Apr at around 2pm, 3SG Syazwan (left) and LTA Aravin (right) were heading back to camp in the Safety vehicle after completing an exercise.

As they were driving along Lim Chu Kang Road, an observant 3SG Syazwan noticed a lady lying unconscious by the roadside, but could not stop the vehicle in time to render aid. LTA Aravin then stepped up and made the decisive call to immediately turn back and provide aid to the lady.

"We were on a safety vehicle and had access to safety stores and a stretcher. What's more, 3SG Syazwan was a medical specialist", explained LTA Aravin on why he made that decision.

For Miss Siti Aishah (left), it was a birthday she will never forget. On that day, she had left the nearby cemetery and was walking out to the bus stop along Lim Chu Kang Road. When asked to recount the incident, she only remembers feeling dizzy and losing her balance before waking up to find herself in the hospital, where she was subsequently warded for 2 days.

Aishah shared with us that while she was prone to fainting spells and had passed out in public places before, none were as deserted and isolated as Lim Chu Kang Road. After LTA Aravin and 3SG Syazwan retold their story to her, the coincidence of the incident led her to jokingly jest that she “fainted at the right place, at the right time”!

Upon arriving on-site, the soldiers instinctively brought the lady to a shaded bus stop before proceeding with medical treatment. A passer-by was already on the phone with the paramedics, and 3SG Syazwan naturally took over. With his medical training, he briefed the paramedics of the situation and worked with them over the phone to administer first aid.

Based on his assessment, 3SG Syazwan identified the presence of a pulse and therefore commenced “rescue breathing” by using an emergency oxygen tank to provide her with supplemental oxygen. Together with LTA Aravin, ice bags were also retrieved from the safety vehicle and placed at her neck and armpits to lower her body temperature.

When the paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived, 3SG Syazwan informed them of her condition and what aid he had performed. Another Warrant Officer who had passed by the scene (soldier in the helmet) stopped to help out too. As a team, the soldiers and paramedics helped transfer the lady into the ambulance before they parted ways.

LTA Aravin credited his decision to help the lady to one of the core values of the Singapore army.

"As a commander, I am naturally concerned for my soldiers. Even when the slightest of injuries occur, I will tend to them and make sure they receive proper medical attention. One of our core values - Care for Soldiers, caused me to make the decision to stop and tend to that lady who was in need of help."

For 3SG Syazwan, who is a medic, this was the first real life case he had to deal with by himself.

"This was the first time I was on my own. I was quite nervous but I tried to stay as calm as possible. I was taught that things will not go as smoothly as planned when we were nervous, so I constantly tell myself to stay calm."

Well done guys!

Images from The Singapore Army's Facebook page

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