At the AHM...

In case you haven't heard...

Captain dies in race; second such fatality this year
JUST last month, Captain Ho Si Qiu finished a creditable 23rd out of 1,369 runners at the 10-kilometre Saucony-100Plus Passion Run here.
Yesterday morning, the 25-year-old platoon commander from the Officer Cadet School took on a bigger challenge — the 21-km Singapore Bay Run, also known as the Safra Sheares Bridge Run & Army Half Marathon 2007.
But as he crossed the finishing line at 7am, about one and a half hours after the race started, CPT Ho collapsed and stopped breathing.
Medics attended to him within 30 seconds. At the medical post, an intubation was performed and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, was carried out immediately, but no heart rhythm was detected.
But CPT Ho failed to respond and was sent to the Singapore General Hospital hospital. He was pronounced dead at 8.07am. Police have classified the case as unnatural death and are investigating.
CPT Ho's death is the second sudden death from running this year — the first athlete who died was 17-year-old Thaddeus Cheong in June, just after crossing the finishing line at a national triathlon selection trial for this year's SEA Games.
Organisers of yesterday's run, which is into its 16th year, said measures were in place to ensure the safety of the record 70,000 participants, an increase of 5,000 from last year. There were 13 medic points set up and over 100 medical personnel deployed.
Said a spokesman for Safra: "During registration, we advised participants to hydrate during race day, give their bodies adequate recovery time during training, give the bodies a complete rest before the actual race and take fluids at each of our water points.
"They were also advised not to take part if they feel unwell."
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister, who participated in the run, along with Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said last night he was saddened by CPT Ho's death.
But he felt that the organisers had taken all possible safety measures.
Said Dr Balakrishnan: "As I was running, I noticed there were many ambulances, medical teams and medical equipment. This was one event in which the SAF, I believe, took every effort to make sure the medical cover was present, was available and was able to move into action immediately.
"At the finish line, he (Captain Ho) was treated by a full medical team, including a doctor. So at this time, it appears that what measures could be taken, were taken."
This latest casualty comes at a time when the National Sports Safety Committee is due to release its report to the Singapore Sports Council (SSC).
The 12 member committee is fine-tuning the report to ensure all areas of safety are covered and best measures are implemented.
The MCYS is also studying a preliminary report that has been submitted by the National Sports Safety Committee and is discussing the findings with relevant sports associations.
The SSC has stepped up safety training for their staff, as more Singaporeans participate in sorting events.
SSC chief executive officer Oon Jin Teik said: " Safety is a mindset and practice that everyone must be aware of. Every participant, every organisation should understand that every accident is preventable.
"It is very unfortunate the fatalities are happening. But, we shouldn't be frightened by the situation."
The upcoming proposals, he added, will improve the safety aspects further.
Meanwhile, Dr Jason Chia, the medical director for next weekend's Aviva Singapore Ironman 70.3 Triathlon is not leaving anything to chance.
There will be adequate medical equipment and safety staff on stand-by.
But Dr Chia stressed the need for participants to go through screening before strenuous activities like triathlons and biathlons.
"Athletes must take safety and their medical condition seriously. While adequate training is important, they must get themselves checked out with a pre-race screening," he said. "Some symptoms may not be recognised easily and that's the importance of the screening. They must take the risk involved seriously."

Safety officer: Anybody not feeling well???