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Saturday, August 16, 2008 Geek: some scary shit!

8/16/2008 03:15:00 PM

Finally i couldn't believe that i managed to complete my field camp. Field camp is considered as one of the toughest course to any NS recruit. Basically you'll be in the jungle of tekong for 6 days and 5 night doing all the jungle training, digging & sleeping in your own shell scrape (grave like) and not a single shower.

The whole field camp began with a 8km route march from the company line to the camp site and with a field pack which weighs roughly close to 8kg and a rifle which is roughly about 4kg. The whole entire period of marching i was very much quiet and just concentrating on finishing it and the worst mistake that i've made was not to drink enough water.

Once the whole company had settle down to build our tent and dig our drainage system, i realize that i was out of breath and my asthma came at the worst timing. I tried to sit down to breathe slowly and calmly but nothing seems to work and my body starts to panic and thats when i slowly lie my head on the ground and i remember vividly my eyes were close and both my hands and feet started to cramp up. The next thing i knew, i entered into a convulsion and all that i could hear are all my sergeants asking me if im alright and the medic came to take me away to the medical post.

Inside the medic post, they put ice on most part of my body and sprayed me with cold water, trying to cool my body down. The cramps on my hands and feet grew worst and i was breathing too fast, i was then evacuated from the camp site with a safety rover all the way to the medical centre's emergency room. During the whole entire journey i couldn't really remember what happened because the next thing i saw was 6 medics surrounding me and a doctor asking me numerous questions and asking me not to close my eyes. That totally peak as my worst event in my entire life because i really felt like my time was coming to a close and honestly, my body was just ready to go. I know it may sound dramatic but that was truly how i felt.

The medics then inserted an IV drip on my arm and they fixed an oxygen mask on my face. My condition then improved but my body would still go on fits cycle after awhile. The doctor then decided to evacuate me to Changi General Hospital for treatment. I was taken in an ambulance, then a speed boat to SAF ferry terminal and another ambulance to CGH. During the entire journey to CGH, i was back to normal and i was diagnosed by another doctor at CGH and given medications and 2 days MC but instead of going home, i was asked to go back to tekong for observation at sick bay.

So there you go, one whirlwind week for me. I felt like one of the victim in a drama soap, everything was so surreal but not to worry people, i recovered but i have to take on my medication to prevent future similar incident. From the medical report, i suffered from Asthma exacerbation, hyperventilation and physical exhaustion....so a little note for future NS recruits doing your field camp, remember to drink lots and lots of water...Lol...

Anyway i completed my field camp and my Basic Inoculation Course. Im just left with a Situational Test and IPPT and in 3 weeks time, i will be out of Tekong...YEA!!

PS: The best thing about field camp is your breakfast, lunch and dinner are in ration packets and i ate various types of pasta almost everyday..... now i hate pasta!