Tom
Tan, 42, noticed a number of people getting injured along the roads and beaches and decided
to do something about it. He got together with like-minded volunteers
to form the COP team, who would be able to provide assistance to those injured quickly.
On the right, we see the COP volunteers assisting an "injured" resident.
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Mr Charles
Chong, Chairman of NorthEast CDC, together
with the COP volunteers
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Volunteers Providing First Aid to Fellow Residents
Nearly
60 residents from Pasir Ris Elias division have dedicated their time and new found
skills to patrol their estate and beaches as a member of the Community On Patrol or COP.
These residents, who are all volunteers, have been receiving training in first aid
and in fire fighting. Under the COP programme, the volunteers will patrol their
estate on specially designed bicycles with pillion boxes for the first aid kits and
fire extinguisher.
The idea for the COP was initially conceptualised about one year ago by one of
the volunteers. Tom Tan, 42, noticed a number of people getting injured along
the roads and especially along the beaches. Although many of them were only minor
injuries, he felt it prudent to provide assistance as quickly as possible. Tom,
who dabbles in art, designed the initial concept of the bicycle and managed to
attract like-minded volunteers.
The project was adopted by the Pasir Ris Elias Civil Defence Executive Committee
(CDEC). The CDEC approached NorthEast Community Development Council (CDC) to
co-organise and launch the project.
The COP will first patrol the estate and beach along Pasir Ris Elias during
the weekends, in a two-man team for a two-hour period at a stretch.
Mr Charles Chong, the Chairman of NorthEast CDC officially launched COP,
on 10 December 2000.
The COP concept clearly shows the active and public-spirited nature of
the residents in Pasir Ris Elias. With the support from NorthEast CDC, their
dreams and visions were turned into reality.
Article courtesy of NorthEast
CDC
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