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As Ground Response Force (GRF) officers with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Sgt Liyana Nadhirah Binte Ismail and Sgt Nurshuhadah Binte Sulaiman are no strangers to responding swiftly in high-pressure situations.
Despite the difference in their years of service – one year for Sgt Nadhirah and 11 years for Sgt Shuhadah – both officers were shaped by the training and experiences they gained throughout their careers, bonding over their time as colleagues at Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood Police Centre.
Time is Ticking
On the morning of 21 May 2026, a motorcyclist who was travelling on the Pan-Island Expressway got into a collision with a van. The accident happened at about 9:15am, causing a traffic jam. Sgt Nadhirah and Sgt Shuhadah were driving along the expressway, on their way to Macritchie Reservoir for a run, when they came across the accident scene.
They knew immediately what they had to do. Sgt Nadhirah went to check on the motorcyclist who was injured while Sgt Shuhadah called 995 for further assistance.
Having formerly been a paramedic with the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Sgt Nadhirah quickly conducted first aid on the motorcyclist. “My natural instincts took over,” she recounted.
The motorcyclist was conscious but felt great pain in his right leg. Throughout it all, Sgt Nadhirah kept talking to him: “I spoke to him calmly and reassured him that help was on the way. I also explained what I was doing as I treated his injury, to help reduce his anxiety as much as possible.”
Rush Hour Response
While Sgt Nadhirah attended to the motorcyclist, Sgt Shuhadah turned her attention to the scene around them after calling for assistance.
After positioning their vehicle to alert approaching motorists and placing a breakdown warning triangle at the scene, Sgt Shuhadah took to directing traffic – getting vehicles to slow down, creating a safety buffer around them.
“My main concern was preventing a second collision that could further endanger us,” Sgt Shuhadah said. “I remained alert to approaching vehicles and did my best to get drivers to slow down and pass by safely.”
When an SCDF ambulance and the Traffic Police arrived shortly after, they took full control of the scene. The paramedics conveyed the motorcyclist to the hospital for medical care. Meanwhile, the Traffic Police directed traffic and finally restored the flow of vehicles along the expressway.
A Well-Deserved Honour
For their efforts that morning, Sgt Nadhirah and Sgt Shuhadah were awarded the Community First Responder Award by SCDF. To the officers, what shaped their quick response was their training and knowing that they could rely on each other throughout the incident.
“Rather than working independently,” said Sgt Shuhadah, “we were able to complement each other’s strengths and provide our best assistance until emergency services arrived.”
For officers like Sgt Nadhirah and Sgt Shuhadah, the instincts forged through their training don't clock out when their watch ends. They carry them wherever they go, ready to act whenever someone needs help.
