Neighbor Suffers Cardiac Arrest; Off-Duty Nurses Work Together to Rescue and Receive Praise
Performing CPR for neighbors suffering from cardiac arrest, the heroic actions of Senior Registered Nurse Tulasi (left) and Registered Nurse Ho Ka Wai from Ng Teng Fong General Hospital were recognized by Singapore’s Civil Defence Force, who received the “Community Vanguard First Responder Award.” (Provided by Ng Ting Fong General Hospital)
In critical moments, a timely helping hand can save lives. In July this year, a man suddenly suffered cardiac arrest at home. Two off-duty nurses immediately responded to a call for help, rushing to the scene to work together. Their calmness and professionalism earned praise from Singapore’s Civil Defence Force.
The two are Thulasi Krishnaraj (37), Senior Registered Nurse at Huang Ting Fong General Hospital, and He Jiawei (36), a registered nurse. With years of emergency experience and seamless teamwork, they received the “Community First Responder Award” at the Civil Defence Force Awards Ceremony in September, recognizing their courage and professionalism in critical moments.
Tulasi recalled that at the time of the incident, she happened to be watching TV at home when she suddenly received an alert from the myResponder app of the Civil Defence Force, indicating that someone needed emergency treatment. The location was in her HDB flat, just two floors away from her unit.
She immediately changed clothes and went out. Upon arrival, she found a family member performing CPR on a man in his 60s, so she immediately took over and continued the rescue.
Meanwhile, Ho Ka Wai, who lives in two HDB flats two blocks away, also received the same notice. When he arrived at the scene, he was surprised to find his emergency department colleague, Tulasi, already undergoing emergency treatment. “She is my senior, and since we come from the same department, having familiar partners present allows me to focus more on patients and rescue missions.”
He then took an automated external defibrillator (AED), and the two took turns performing CPR until the Civil Defence personnel arrived.
Both admitted that the situation at the scene was completely different from the hospital. The man’s family was nearby, some praying, others anxiously watching, which brought additional psychological pressure and highlighted the importance of community emergency care. Ho Ka Wai said, “Every second was critical. We could only focus on the rescue and didn’t have time to think too much.”
Both feel deeply honoured to have won. Tulasi hopes more people will download the myResponder app and join the rescue network. “Even small actions can save lives.”
Although the man ultimately passed away after being sent to the hospital, Tulasi and Ho Ka Wai still emphasized that timely community intervention can significantly improve survival chances.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报
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