Safety Measures at Self-use Facilities in SAF Camps Such As Swimming Pools and Fitness Centres
Ministry of DefenceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns safety measures for the self-use of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) facilities, such as gyms and pools, as raised by Ms Joan Pereira. Coordinating Minister and Minister Chan Chun Sing stated that medically fit personnel may use these facilities provided they carry mobile phones and remain contactable. SAF units further mitigate risks through medical suitability assessment forms and reminders to contact emergency services during medical exigencies. While facilities are manned during operating hours, personnel may use them at other times by adhering to standard self-initiated training precautions. Notably, since late August 2025, personnel are prohibited from swimming alone if no lifeguards or other individuals are present at the pool.
Transcript
11 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence what are the safety measures in place for the self-use of facilities within Singapore Armed Forces camps, such as swimming pools and fitness equipment, including having safety officers or lifeguards on duty.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) service personnel who are medically and physically fit are allowed to participate in self-initiated physical fitness activities on SAF premises to improve their personal fitness. In doing so, they are required to take precautions to mitigate risks, which include bringing their mobile phones with them and remaining contactable, and pairing with a buddy if the activity is done outside SAF premises, for example, for an out-of-camp run. SAF units also remind their service personnel to contact the emergency ambulance service in the event of medical exigencies and provide forms to help service personnel assess their suitability for self-initiated activity as an additional precautionary measure.
Gyms and swimming pools in SAF premises are manned by duty personnel or lifeguards during operating hours. SAF service personnel are allowed to use these facilities outside operating hours without duty personnel or lifeguards on site, as long as they take the precautions required of self-initiated fitness activities. Since late August 2025, added precautions have been implemented for self-initiated swimming activities. Service personnel are now not allowed to swim alone with no one else at the pool, if there are no lifeguards on site.