SCDF mobile pod set to help cut emergency response times

Emergency medical services (EMS) crews will soon be able to take breaks between calls in a custom-built mobile pod, instead of having to return to their bases.

- Claudia Tan

Known as a dynamic deployment pod, the space functions as a temporary base for EMS crews, who are usually deployed from fire stations, fire posts and dynamic deployment bases.

Dynamic deployment bases are locations such as police stations and community centres where ambulances are deployed.

The pod is part of the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) plans to meet the increasing demand for emergency medical services.

It was inspired by gym pods and isolated office spaces that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, and took about six to 12 months to build, said SCDF.

SCDF said it collaborated with local vendors to come up with the design of the pod, which was fabricated abroad.

The first pod was unveiled by SCDF during an event on Feb 25 at Jurong Lake Gardens, where it will remain for three months as part of a six-month trial.

It will be relocated to Toa Payoh Public Library for the second half of the trial.

During the event, Lieutenant-Colonel Amelia Justina Lim, senior assistant director of EMS' plans and policy department, said: "The aim of this trial is to improve our geographical coverage of the ambulance department, so we can reach emergencies quicker."