They run towards danger while others flee for safety, but who safeguards the health of those who dedicated their lives to protecting us? At Petaling Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, a community project led by the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya (UM), is proving that frontline readiness depends not only on physical strength, but also on an often-overlooked aspect: oral health. Through the Firefighter Oral Resilience and Champion Empowerment (FORCE) project, firefighters received oral health education, basic dental treatment, healthy lifestyle guidance, and environmental transformation towards the concept of a “Healthy Fire Station”, specifically designed to accommodate the realities of shift work.
FORCE was held from 20 January to 22 May 2026 by postgraduate students enrolled in the Doctor in Dental Public Health programme at the Department of Community Oral Health and Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, UM. The project was supervised by Prof. Dr. Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof and led by Dr. Navissha Devi Thivyakumar.
FORCE was developed in response to the unique needs of firefighters and tailored to the demands of work, including unpredictable emergency duties, high work-related stress, exposure to heat and smoke, dehydration risk, and irregular mealtimes. These occupational challenges can make it difficult to maintain routine oral hygiene, practise healthy eating habits, and access dental care.
The need for this project became evident following an initial assessment of 47 firefighters revealed that more than 90 per cent required dental treatment, with 31.9 per cent needed referrals for further treatment, while more than 60 per cent required reinforcement of oral health education.
FORCE addressed these needs through a comprehensive intervention package directly at the fire station, including oral health screening and education, dental treatment through the UM Mobile Dental Clinic (bus), nutrition and smoking/vaping interventions, as well as environmental improvements such as the establishment of a toothbrushing corner. Selected firefighters were also trained as Dental Champions, becoming change agents for the project's sustainability through ongoing promotional activities.
The initial results were highly encouraging. Firefighters demonstrated significant improvements in oral health knowledge and preventive practices such as flossing, brushing before bedtime, and attending regular dental check-ups. In addition, 92.1 per cent of participants stated that FORCE had helped them better understand their own oral health status and risks. Participants also expressed confidence in maintaining good oral health practices while on duty, and 100 per cent supported the continuation of the programme as a Healthy Fire Station initiative.
Furthermore, positive behavioural changes were recorded, including reduced smoking and vaping, increased willingness to seek smoking cessation support, improved oral hygiene and plain water intake, and reduced consumption of sugary drinks.
FORCE’s implementation was strengthened through strategic collaboration between the UM Faculty of Dentistry, the Petaling Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, the UM Dental Clinic, the Department of Dietetics at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, the Kuala Lumpur Smoking Cessation Clinic, and the Petaling District Oral Health Office. Industry partners, Enhance Dental Group Sdn. Bhd. and Haleon Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., also contributed by providing toothbrushes and toothpaste to support the sustainability of the programme.
The success of FORCE will be celebrated at a closing ceremony on 7 July 2026 at the Petaling Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, attended by distinguished guests and stakeholder representatives. The ceremony will recognise participants who demonstrated positive changes, as well as collaborative partners who contributed to the project's success. The Dental Champions will also be officially linked with the Petaling District Oral Health Office through the Ikon Gigi programme to further strengthen the sustainability of the initiative.
This model aligns with the National Oral Health Strategic Plan 2022–2030 through efforts to improve access, prevention, strategic collaboration, and sustainable community empowerment.
FORCE demonstrates that universities, fire and rescue services, health agencies, and industry partners can work together to build a healthier and more resilient frontline workforce. Protecting the nation's well-being begins with protecting the health of those who serve it.
Mereka berlari ke arah bahaya ketika orang lain menyelamatkan diri, namun siapakah yang menjaga kesihatan mereka yang melindungi kita? Di Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Petaling Jaya, sebuah projek komuniti yang diterajui Fakulti Pergigian, Universiti Malaya (UM) membuktikan bahawa kesiapsiagaan anggota bomba bukan sahaja bergantung pada kekuatan fizikal, tetapi juga pada satu aspek yang sering diabaikan, iaitu kesihatan pergigian. Melalui projek Firefighter Oral Resilience and Champion Empowerment atau FORCE, anggota bomba menerima pendidikan penjagaan kesihatan pergigian, rawatan pergigian asas, bimbingan gaya hidup sihat, dan transformasi persekitaran ke arah konsep “Balai Bomba Sihat”, yang dirancang berdasarkan realiti kerja syif.
FORCE dilaksanakan dari 20 Januari hingga 22 Mei 2026 oleh pelajar pascasiswazah yang mengikuti program Doctor in Dental Public Health, di Jabatan Kesihatan Pergigian Masyarakat dan Pencegahan Klinikal, Fakulti Pergigian, UM. Projek ini diselia oleh Prof. Dr. Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof dan diketuai oleh Dr. Navissha Devi Thivyakumar.
FORCE dibangunkan berdasarkan keperluan unik para anggota bomba dan disesuaikan dengan beban tugas mereka, termasuk tugasan kecemasan yang tidak menentu, tekanan kerja yang tinggi, pendedahan kepada haba dan asap, risiko dehidrasi, serta waktu makan yang tidak teratur. Cabaran pekerjaan ini boleh menyukarkan penjagaan kebersihan mulut secara rutin, pemakanan sihat dan akses kepada rawatan pergigian.
Keperluan untuk projek ini terlihat jelas apabila penilaian awal terhadap 47 anggota bomba mendapati bahawa lebih daripada 90 peratus memerlukan rawatan pergigan, dengan 31.9 peratus memerlukan rujukan untuk rawatan lanjut, dan lebih daripada 60 peratus memerlukan pengukuhan pendidikan penjagaan kesihatan pergigian.
FORCE menangani keperluan tersebut melalui pakej intervensi menyeluruh yang dilaksanakan terus di balai bomba, merangkumi pemeriksaan dan pendidikan kesihatan pergigian, rawatan melalui Klinik Pergigian Bergerak UM (bas), intervensi pemakanan dan merokok/ vape, serta intervensi persekitaran seperti penyediaan sudut memberus gigi. Anggota bomba terpilih turut dilatih sebagai Dental Champion, menjadi agen perubahan bagi kemampanan projek melalui aktiviti promosi berterusan.
Hasil awal yang diperoleh amat menggalakkan. Anggota bomba menunjukkan peningkatan signifikan untuk pengetahuan penjagaan kesihatan pergigian dan amalan pencegahan seperti penggunaan flos gigi, memberus gigi sebelum tidur dan pemeriksaan pergigian berkala. Selain itu, 92.1 peratus peserta menyatakan bahawa FORCE telah membantu mereka memahami status dan risiko kesihatan pergigian diri sendiri. Peserta turut menyatakan keyakinan untuk mengamalkan penjagaan kesihatan pergigian semasa bertugas dan 100 peratus menyokong kesinambungan program sebagai inisiatif Balai Bomba Sihat.
Tambahan pula, perubahan tingkah laku positif turut dicatatkan, termasuk pengurangan merokok/ vape dan kesediaan mendapatkan sokongan berhenti, peningkatan kebersihan mulut dan pengambilan air kosong, serta pengurangan pengambilan minuman bergula.
Pelaksanaan FORCE diperkukuh melalui kerjasama strategik antara Fakulti Pergigian UM, Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Petaling Jaya, Klinik Pergigian UM, Jabatan Dietetik Pusat Perubatan UM, Klinik Berhenti Merokok Kuala Lumpur serta Pejabat Kesihatan Pergigian Daerah Petaling. Sokongan rakan industri daripada Enhance Dental Group Sdn. Bhd. dan Haleon Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. turut diterima dalam bentuk penyediaan berus dan ubat gigi bagi menyokong kesinambungan program.
Kejayaan FORCE akan diraikan dalam majlis penutupan pada 7 Julai 2026 di Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Petaling Jaya, melibatkan tetamu kehormat serta wakil pemegang taruh. Majlis ini penting untuk meraikan peserta yang menunjukkan perubahan positif, serta rakan kolaborasi yang membantu menjayakan projek ini. Dental Champion juga akan dihubungkan secara rasmi dengan Pejabat Kesihatan Pergigian Daerah Petaling melalui program Ikon Gigi bagi memperkukuh kemampanan.
Model ini selari dengan Pelan Strategik Kesihatan Pergigian Kebangsaan 2022–2030 melalui usaha meningkatkan akses, pencegahan, kerjasama strategik dan pemerkasaan komuniti secara mampan.
FORCE membuktikan bahawa universiti, perkhidmatan bomba, agensi kesihatan dan rakan industri boleh bekerjasama untuk membina pasukan barisan hadapan yang lebih sihat dan berdaya tahan. Perlindungan kesejahteraan negara bermula dengan melindungi kesihatan para pekerja yang berkhidmat demi kesejahteraannya.
Highlights from the programme activities/ Gambar Aktiviti:
An interactive workshop promoting healthier dietary habits, reduced sugar consumption, smoking cessation, and better oral health practices through engaging educational activities.
Bengkel interaktif menggalakkan tabiat pemakanan yang lebih sihat, pengurangan pengambilan gula, berhenti merokok, dan amalan kesihatan mulut yang lebih baik melalui aktiviti pendidikan yang menarik.
Participants underwent comprehensive oral health screenings (dental charting) Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE), plaque assessment, as well as preventive and basic dental treatments provided through the Universiti Malaya Mobile Dental Clinic.
Peserta menjalani saringan kesihatan mulut yang komprehensif meliputi pemeriksaan gigi (dental charting), penilaian kesihatan gusi (BPE), penilaian plak, serta rawatan pencegahan dan rawatan asas menggunakan Klinik Pergigian Bergerak, Universiti Malaya.
A healthy cooking demonstration showcasing meal preparation that encourages healthier eating habits while reducing sugar and salt intake.
Demonstrasi penyediaan makanan bagi menggalakkan tabiat pemakanan yang lebih sihat serta pengurangan pengambilan gula dan garam.
An intervention session encouraging firefighters to quit high-risk habits such as smoking and vaping to improve their health and operational readiness while on duty.
Intervensi bagi menggalakkan anggota untuk berhenti tabiat berisiko seperti merokok/vaping bagi meningkatkan kesiapsiagaan anggota ketika bertugas.