The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is to review safety precautions during sports events, a move prompted by the death of teenage triathlete Thaddeus Cheong, 17.

It said yesterday it would work with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Triathlon Association of Singapore to find ways on how to improve safety measures.

In the meantime, SSC Chief Executive officer Oon Jun Teik reminded the national sports associations and sports event organisers yesterday to "adhere strictly to safety guidelines," The Straits Times reported today.

The death of Thaddeus, a Raffles Junior College student, who collapsed on Sunday upon completing a selection trial for the coming South-east Asia games, has raised questions on whether safety precautions are adequate during sports events.

Although he was rushed to hospital within 15 minutes, his heart had stopped beating by the time he arrived and efforts to revive him failed.

There had been no medical personnel present at the trial and no ambulance equipped with a defibrillator, a device used to jump-start a stalled heart. according to The Straits Times .

TAS officials explained later that Thaddeus was not given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because he still had a pulse when he collapsed. However, they did not provide an explanation on why there was no ambulance hired for the trial.

According to Mr Oon, all organisers of sports events must provide either first-aiders or paramedics, or an ambulance service equipped with a defibrillator.

They are also urged to carry out a medical support plan with the advice of medical professionals. The plan should consider the nature of the sport, as well as the number and profile of participants.

Organisers should also conduct safety briefings for participants, advising them to go for prior health screening to plan their training and to monitor their condition during the event.

The SSC has distributed these safety guidelines to the national sports associations and event organisers previously.