More than a first responder

This Singapore Government scholar is part of a new generation of SCDF paramedics bringing help wherever it is needed

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Being a good paramedic means having strong detective skills. Lieutenant (LTA) Max Han can attest to that. He and his crew once responded to a call from an anxious woman whose friend had not shown up for their regular mahjong game.

When LTA Han and his ambulance crew from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived at her friend's flat, they found the door and gate locked. Through a side window, they spotted an elderly man collapsed on the floor. Firefighters were called in to conduct forcible entry into the unit.

Once inside, the team quickly assessed that the man was in a diabetic coma but had no other injuries. After administering intravenous dextrose, the patient regained consciousness.

Further investigation revealed that the man, who was also suspected to be suffering from mild dementia, had forgotten to eat after his insulin injection, triggering a dangerous drop in blood glucose.