SINGAPORE – Awoken by the smell of smoke and persistent knocking on her front door, Siti Sara Hamid’s first thought was to evacuate her grandmother due to her mobility issues.
Sara, 29, and her family of five were asleep when police officers instructed residents from Block 979B Buangkok Crescent to evacuate, following a blaze at a unit at about 12.30am on Aug 20.
The challenge of evacuating older residents with mobility difficulties was highlighted after four fatal fires in HDB estates in 19 days between July 28 and Aug 16.
All the victims were elderly, aged between 65 and 88 years old. Around 220 people were evacuated.
MPs and social service agencies have said the evacuation process is a concern and they are looking at ways to improve emergency preparedness and evacuation support.
Shaken and unsteady on her feet, Sara’s grandmother, 83, was helped to the first floor by neighbours.
She said: “Since my grandmother needs a walker to move around, it was distressing and panic-inducing for her. Our neighbours were so supportive and patient. They told her to be careful, take her time and not panic.”
A fire occurred in Buangkok Crescent at around 12.30am on Aug 20.
PHOTO: VICTOR LYE/FACEBOOK
Social service agency Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore), which provides care and support to the elderly, said it is important for the elderly to recognise danger.
Karen Wee, an executive director at the agency, said: “We need to ask, ‘Can the elderly raise the alarm or physically evacuate? Otherwise, does somebody nearby know that assistance may be required?’”
She said those at risk are frail, elderly folk who live alone, have mobility difficulties, hearing or visual impairment or are experiencing social isolation and cognitive decline.
Stress, smoke and confusion during an emergency can make these limitations much more significant, she noted.
“That is why building community capability alongside individual preparedness is so important,” Wee said.
Violet Yang, manager of TOUCH Community Case Management at TOUCH Community Services, said the difficulty of evacuating the elderly during a fire is a nationwide issue that requires the collective effort of all relevant government agencies and community partners.
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