Fulfilling a childhood dream, Sergeant Mak Cho-tak from Planning and Development Branch joined the Force in 1994. Prior to that, he had joined the St John Ambulance Brigade. Since becoming a police officer, he has been devoting his spare time to serving the community as a medic.

 

As an Ambulance Brigade member, SGT Mak works on the frontline, taking part in many public events, for example horse racing days and long-distance runs, and provides first aid to the public after receiving urgent calls. He keeps on learning and applies newly acquired knowledge in offering volunteer services. Last year, he was promoted to take charge of an Ambulance Brigade Control Centre, responsible for mobilisation of ambulances, management and monitoring of daily ambulance services.

 

 

During his 19-year service with the Ambulance Brigade, SGT Mak handled many incidents, two of which have left a lasting memory on him. In an incident, he was deployed to a home. On arrival, he found the family members applying medicated oil to an elderly woman, whose face had turned purple in colour. The family members thought the elder felt dizzy, but in fact food was choking her windpipe, missing the opportunity to save the elder. This incident underscored the importance of timely life-saving first aid and prompted SGT to advocate learning first aid. "If everyone knows how to save life, there would be less tragedies," he noted.

 

The other incident was the vessel collision off the Lamma Island on the evening of October 1 1ast year. In that night, he was the Officer-in-Charge of the Hong Kong Island Ambulance Station and a Control Centre. After receiving an urgent phone call at home, he dashed back to the Control Centre. Sensing something serious had happened, he deployed some ambulances in Kowloon and New Territories to Hong Kong Island.

 

SGT Mak was greatly moved by what he saw at the scene: the victims were soaked with seawater and some were seriously wounded. Some victims refused to go to hospital and wanted to find their missing family members and friends. "This incident has made me more determined to help people," he noted.

 

In face of the crisis, SGT Mak kept his cool and showed his leadership and professionalism, earning the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service. Thanking his superiors and colleagues for his honour, he said: "Both police and volunteer service require devotion to duty. My satisfaction comes more from the experience I got from overcoming difficulties and helping people than the commendation."

 

 

In the first place, SGT Mak did not realise that what he had learned from his Ambulance Brigade would be useful to police work, but after having worked in different units, he discovered that the jobs of the Force and the Ambulance Brigade "are closely linked".  

 

"For example, Emergency Unit officers are the first party to handle the wounded, saving life and preventing injuries from aggravating at the scene," he said.

 

Looking from another perspective, with his police experience, he is capable of handling the "bad situations" that he had come across as a police officer. 

 

Asked how he has struck a balance among work, family and volunteer service, he replied: "As long as you can devote yourself to everything you do." His wife, a nurse by calling, gives him full support for his volunteer services. 

 

SGT Mak encourages fellow officers to join volunteer service. "This would project the Force's image in good light. We help people when we put on uniform. We also can do so after work." He concluded.