Saturday, October 15, 2011

Public Transport Emergency Preparedness Exercise - PH

PhotoHunt theme : Public
passengers injured in a MRT train

Singapore values public safety and security. It believes in being prepared to face major disaster so as to ensure minimum disruption by any disaster to its community, environment and infrastructure.

Over 400 people took part in an emergency preparedness exercise to test the Circle Line's readiness for a large-scale emergency.




getting ready to board the train

SMRT staff conducted a safety briefing to the public before the simulation began. The SMRT station and Operation Control Centre staff worked with officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) to detrain and rescue the commuters trapped in the train following a fire. During the exercise, a train on fire stopped in the tunnel between the Circle Line's Nicoll Highway and Stadium Stations .

Passengers on board the train were evacuated through escape shafts to safe ground, where the injured are treated. This is the first time evacuation using an escape shaft was included as part of an SMRT emergency exercise.

No, I wasn't one of the "injured". Although it is less tiring to lie down and get bandaged but I was more interested to know the escape routes.


The public is regularly kept informed and reminded on the need for and importance of emergency preparedness through various communications tools e.g. news and press advertisements, posters, leaflets etc. The underlying message to the public is “Readiness is your only protection”.


The emergency exercise was an excellent opportunity for members of the public to test the effectiveness of SMRT and the various agencies' emergency response plans and procedures. They learn about safety procedures in a realistic setting.

In times of crisis and such situations, it is important for everybody to remain calm, and also to place their confidence and trust in the agencies that are collaborating in this effort.



16 comments:

  1. It is always good to be prepared. You got to see other parts of the underground station you normally wouldn't see or visit on a regular day. Did you get a yellow cap too? :)

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  2. Great initiative, I don't think there is such a plan around here :(

    Very interesting take on the theme, ECL. Regarding your question: I think they are unknown and just regular people...no royalty.
    Enjoy your weekend!!

    public

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  3. Hi eastcoastlife --

    Very interesting exercise and take on this week's Photo Hunt theme.

    Re your query re the Fukagawa Edo Museum I wrote about in my Photo Hunt entry: it is located at 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto-ku -- the best way to get there by public transportation is to take the train to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station and then walk for a few minutes to the museum.

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  4. this is a great exercise to be prepared in the event of an emergency. great post.

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  5. I find it a very smart program of the government to take care of its people.

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  6. It is a good idea to be prepared in the event of any emergency. Great post ECL!

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  7. It is very important to be prepared for emergencies. Great take on the theme.

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  8. That's very nice, but are they prepared in case I arrive in Singapore ??

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  9. An excellent idea. It is essential that rails staff and emergency services get this sort of training

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  10. There nothing like that here. We don't even have Taxi let lone public transportation.
    Coffee is on

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  11. It is good to be prepared. I just hope that it will not be needed for real. Thank you for your visits and your kind comments. It is so very nice to make blogging friends. Have a blessed weekend. Catherine

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  12. My son is a reservist with CD, and he undergone lots of EP day exercises during his NS time, including in MRT stations/tunnel.

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  13. This is a good exercise. Everyone should be prepared for any emergency.

    And so cool being able to go where commuters won't go too.

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  14. It's good to be prepared than never! It is especially crucial when the world is not a safe place than before.

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  15. Wow great initiative. There's nothing like this in France. sadly only after a disaster happens. Then it gets forgotten til the next disaster. Great to be back here ECL. Wish you well!

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  16. I think the whole wide world needs to take these techniques on board. The last few years with what it has thrown at the various lands of our planet plus the concerns of terrorism means we should all really take the time to study such valuable procedures.
    A wonderful post that has us all thinking deeply!

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