Saving lives is all in a day’s work for lifeguard and Star Rescue Individual Award winner CPL (NS) Muhammad Sharaom bin Samsudin.
CPL (NS) Muhammad Sharaom bin Samsudin has dedicated most of his career to safeguarding the well-being of others — a commitment recognised in July 2024 with the Star Rescue Individual Award for saving a child’s life.
Sharaom’s journey in caring for others began during his National Service with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), where his first role was as a mechanic non-commissioned officer at Alexandra Fire Station. “There, I attended a course on handling blood grouping at the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) Medical Centre because the government was updating our ICs with blood types,” the 51-year-old recalls.
Attached to the National Registration Board, Sharaom’s unit was deployed across Singapore to assist in this large-scale exercise after being trained in extracting, processing, and identifying blood types. “We had to wear face masks and disposable gloves throughout to avoid direct contact with the blood while collecting and handling it,” he says. “To ensure public confidence in the safety of the procedure, we also had to learn how to communicate effectively and be meticulous, especially in avoiding any mistakes in blood type grouping.”
After completing National Service, Sharaom decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and try commercial diving. This experience left a lasting impression, giving him a firsthand understanding of the power of water and the importance of safety. “It taught me to respect nature, prioritise safety procedures, and always expect the unexpected,” he says.
Five years later, Sharaom joined the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s Airport Emergency Service as a fireman. Although he worked at Changi Airport for 15 years, he never strayed far from his love for water. “I joined partly because they had a Sea Rescue Unit based at Changi Beach,” he admits. “After leaving, I became a lifeguard at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to make time for coaching swimming classes.”
At MBS, Sharaom honed his skills in managing public safety, often dealing with guests more interested in fun than following pool rules. “Things are never smooth sailing with drunk swimmers,” he says. “I learnt to assess their behaviour and approach them in a way suited to hospitality.”
These people skills proved useful four years later when he became a lifeguard at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa and then joined AETOS as an Auxiliary Police Officer in 2019.
“When things returned to almost normal post-COVID and the DORSCON level was lowered, I decided to return to lifeguarding,” Sharaom shares. “A friend suggested I join HomeTeamNS Khatib.”
Living in nearby Woodlands, the location was ideal. Within a few months, he settled in, bonding with colleagues and regular swimmers. “HomeTeamNS Khatib is such a homey place to work, and the people are friendly,” he adds.
The life-saving incident that earned Sharaom the Star Rescue Individual Award took place while he was stationed near the jacuzzi area. As he approached his post, he noticed children playing without any adults in the pool.
“Their parents were standing nearby,” he recalls. “I noticed a small girl calling out to her brother. I asked, ‘Which boy is your brother?’.”
Their mother, who was standing by the staircase, pointed to the boy. Confident he’d accounted for everyone, Sharaom continued to his post. “A few minutes later, I heard someone screaming in Mandarin. I turned to see the mother shouting and pointing at the jacuzzi,” he says.
Sharaom ran over and jumped into the pool, quickly pulling the struggling girl from the deep end and bringing her to her shocked mother. “I squatted down to check if she was going to vomit, but she only coughed and cried,” he says. “Vomiting would mean she drank or choked on water.”
He asked a second lifeguard to watch the other children, then advised the mother to monitor her daughter and seek medical help if she continued coughing or vomited. Grateful, the mother reminded her daughter to thank Sharaom. “It was my responsibility,” he says modestly. “Rescuing swimmers is part of the job, but I’ve never rescued a child before. This experience will stay with me as long as I’m at HomeTeamNS.”
Sharaom received the Star Rescue Individual Award at the International Lifeguard Appreciation Day Dinner & Awards 2024 at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel. Presented by Sport Singapore, the award honours lifeguards who perform rescues, administer first aid, and provide safety guidance. “I’m grateful HomeTeamNS nominated me. I was surprised and happy to receive the award, and my family and friends are proud of me,” says Sharaom.
Reflecting on his career, he shares his advice: “Having the right experience and skills allows you to work with pride. To younger lifeguards, I’d say, ‘Take pride in what you do. Be proud when you put on the uniform, never stop training, stay fit, and as I’ve said, always expect the unexpected.’”
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