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Every patient deserves to be treated with care and compassion. For SCDF Paramedic WO1 Yow Mei Hong, Samantha, this is not just a professional standard; it is a principle that has guided her through 10 years on the frontline.
From responding to medical emergencies and road traffic accidents to delivering babies, every emergency call is different. Yet her focus never wavers: to provide the best possible care for every patient.
For WO1 Yow Mei Hong, Samantha, knowing she has made a difference for her patients drives her to give her best. PHOTO: SCDF
Recently, one encounter stood out from the many calls she has responded to.
Three weeks after responding to a cardiac arrest incident on 12 May 2026, WO1 Samantha received an unexpected visitor at Marina Bay Fire Station. The man she had helped to save had returned with his wife to thank WO1 Samantha and her team.
Recalling the incident, WO1 Samantha shared that the couple was out for a run when the man suffered a cardiac arrest.
Members of the public promptly started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man. Within minutes, the team from Marina Bay Fire Station, comprising firefighters and WO1 Samantha’s ambulance crew arrived and commenced high-performance CPR.
High-performance CPR is a team-based resuscitation effort where each emergency responder has a specific task in resuscitating the patient, from executing chest compressions and providing oxygen to the patient, to using an automated external defibrillator. Through this well-coordinated team-based resuscitation effort, high-quality CPR is given to improve the survivability of cardiac arrest patients.
"The firefighters maintained quality chest compressions and managed the man’s airway. Shortly after we administered the first defibrillation shock, the man’s pulse returned. It was crucial that members of the public started CPR early and maintained it until we arrived,” WO1 Samantha recalled.
(From left) WO1 Muhammad Khairi Bin Azlan, SGT1 Jonathan Aw Wee Kang, WO1 Mohammad Hairul Anwar Bin Samad, CPL Mohamed Irfan Ashruf Ali and SGT1 Putera Ahmad Solehin Bin Hasril Nizam, and SGT1 Senthamil Selvan Kavishka Sudesh Madhushanka (not in photo) performed high-performance CPR on the patient. PHOTO: MARINA BAY FIRE STATION
(From left) WO1 Samantha, LCP Thng De En, and SGT3 Muhammad Haziq Bin Adam responded to the cardiac arrest incident on 12 May 2026. PHOTO: MARINA BAY FIRE STATION
"Three weeks after the incident, they came down to the fire station to thank us. In my 10 years as a paramedic, this was the first time a patient had come back to visit us. It was fulfilling to see him recovering well," WO1 Samantha said with a smile.
The man and his wife visited the emergency responders at Marina Bay Fire Station to express their thanks. PHOTO: MARINA BAY FIRE STATION
While WO1 Samantha was encouraged to learn that the man had survived, it was his wife's words that left a lasting impression on her.
“She was grateful that we were able to bring her husband back to her. As a wife, I could imagine how she felt throughout the ordeal. It reminded me that what we do impacts not just the patient, but the entire family. It validated all our efforts to save lives and motivated me to continue giving my best as a paramedic,” WO1 Samantha reflected.
Before becoming a paramedic, WO1 Samantha had worked in the biotechnology industry. She was considering a career change when she came across a job opening as an SCDF paramedic.
“I used to watch television dramas where paramedics responded to emergencies and helped people in need. When the opportunity came, I did not think too much and applied for it," she said with a laugh.
Apart from emergency medical response, WO1 Samantha has learnt to make decisions under pressure and provide assurance to patients and their family members during difficult moments.
She recalled a memorable incident early in her career, in which she assisted with the delivery of a baby in an ambulance.
"It was my first time delivering a baby, and the patient happened to be my colleague's wife. That experience has stayed with me until now,” she said.
WO1 Samantha with the first baby she delivered, back in 2017. PHOTO: WO1 YOW MEI HONG, SAMANTHA (picture published with consent of the baby’s parents)
Over the years, her experiences as a paramedic have shaped not only the person she has become, but also the values she strives to live by.
"My guiding principle is that every patient must be given the best possible care,” WO1 Samantha said.
"Sometimes, patients or their family members will thank us after the incident. Seeing the relief on their faces gives me a sense of fulfilment because I was able to help someone,” she added.
For those considering a career as a paramedic, she shared that the job requires commitment, humility, and a willingness to keep learning.
"Being a paramedic comes with its own set of challenges, and we cannot expect anything in return. What matters is giving your best to help others,” WO1 Samantha said.