This Lifesaving Award is one of the highest honors presented by the American Red Cross. Established in 1911, the award recognizes individuals who use their Red Cross training and skills to save or sustain a life during an emergency. The Professional Responder designation is reserved for those whose responsibility includes emergency response, such as lifeguards, firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs and healthcare professionals.

Over the past decade, the American Red Cross has honored more than 3,500 individuals worldwide, whose actions have helped save nearly 2,000 lives. At the 2026 Gala, Malik Osman proudly joined this distinguished group.

Last summer, Malik was working as a lifeguard at a youth soccer pool party when he noticed a young boy struggling in the deep end of the pool. Having recently completed his Red Cross lifeguard training, Malik immediately recognized the signs of distress known as the instinctive drowning response.

Without hesitation, Malik entered the pool, reached the child and brought him safely to the pool’s edge. After lifting the boy onto the deck, Malik quickly assessed his condition and began administering abdominal thrusts and CPR. He calmly instructed nearby parents to step back, directed someone to call 9-1-1 and continued lifesaving care until the child began coughing and regaining consciousness.

Paramedics later commended Malik for his swift response and adherence to proper emergency protocols. Despite being just 16 years old at the time, Malik’s decisive and skilled actions ultimately saved the child’s life.

“To tell you the truth, there wasn’t a lot of time to think or be afraid,” Malik said. “When I saw him struggle, my Red Cross training just took over on autopilot. It wasn’t until the paramedics arrived and the boy was safe that the reality of what had just happened hit me.”

Reflecting on the recognition, Malik shared, “I don’t see myself as a hero. I was just in the right place at the right time, with the right preparation. That preparation exists because of the work the Red Cross does every day to educate and empower people in our communities. You give ordinary people the training to act when seconds matter, and I’m grateful I had that knowledge when it counted.”

On behalf of the American Red Cross, Malik was presented with the Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders, with a certificate bearing the signatures of American Red Cross President and CEO Cliff Holtz and Chairman Gail McGovern.

Through his dedication to service and compassion, Malik Osman reflects the Red Cross mission to empower individuals with the skills and confidence to act during emergencies, reminding us that training and preparedness can mean the difference between life and death.

Get Trained
Red Cross training gives people the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency and save a life. A variety of online, blended (online and in-person skills session) and classroom courses are available at redcross.org/takeaclass.

Nominate Someone
If you or someone you know has used skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course to help save or sustain the life of another individual, visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate, recognize, or be inspired.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/norcalcoastal or cruzrojaamericana.org.