If you are ever caught in a terror attack, do you know what to do?

Would you know how to help those around you?

Will you be able to allay fears and maintain harmony in society?

These are the questions that SGSecure, a national movement to prepare and galvanise Singaporeans against terrorism, aims to address.

And with it, the conversation about terrorism went from "What if?" to a matter of "When?".

A question of when terrorism happens

The SGSecure movement was officially launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sept. 24.

At the event, which was held at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), PM Lee called on Singaporeans to play a vigilant role in safeguarding our way of life.

PM Lee also spoke about the importance of all individuals playing a part in protecting Singapore when a terror attack occurs. "Whichever part you play, you will be helping to protect Singapore and our way of life," he said.

PM Lee further stressed on the importance of preparation in order to protect our multi-religious and racial social fabric in Singapore.

He said that when an attack occurs, people will either respond out of fear, or work together to overcome the threats. 

"It's quite clear what the answer is: Stand up, do the right thing, get prepared, gird ourselves." he added.

SGSecure mobile app

At yesterday's launch, PM Lee also unveiled the new SGSecure mobile app, which will enable the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to send important alerts to the public during terrorist attacks or major emergencies and allow them to seek assistance or provide information to the authorities.

Useful information, including a slew of e-learning modules, will also be available to educate the public on the mitigation of terrorism.

A key feature of the app is the handy "report" function, which allows users to upload photos and/or videos , as well as provide descriptions and location of major incidents to the police. Users will be alerted when the police receives the information.

The function is expected to be extremely helpful for members of the public who are caught in a dangerous situation and are unable to call for police help.

Another key feature is the "alert" function, which will provide real-time alerts and advice on what to do during major emergencies. The feature will also assist the authorities in the management of the emergency situation.

Part of a larger scope of programmes

The SGSecure app is but a part of a larger slew of programmes to help impart skills and beef up community response to terrorism.

The SGSecure movement aims to have at least 300 individuals in every constituency to be equipped with lifesaving skills. In addition, the availbility of  automated external defibrillators (AEDs) will continue to be increased -- in pilot constituencies, one AED has been installed for every two HDB blocks.

Other pilot programmes of the movement include education and outreach programmes to neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces, media groups, community groups and the National Service.

These pilot programmes, such as the Emergency Preparedness Day, have already been put into motion and will continue to enhance awareness and spread knowledge of how to respond to a terrorist attack.

The SGSecure mobile app is now available free for download on Android and iOS app stores.

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Top photo by Tan Guan Zhen

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