To mark World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, MILO and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) held their largest MILO SAFE Swim event on July 27 at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. The program equipped participants with essential water safety and first aid skills in response to the growing number of child drowning cases in the country.

Why MILO SAFE Swim Matters

The World Health Organization reported in 2019 that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the Philippines. Among children under 14 years old, it accounts for 31 percent of such cases. MILO SAFE Swim, launched in 2024, is a nationwide initiative that has already reached communities in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Ilocos Sur, Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, Pampanga, and Pasig. Its mission is to raise water safety awareness and provide life-saving skills to families across the country.

“Let’s make a commitment today—to protect each other, to raise awareness, and to give every child the chance to enjoy water safely,” said Dr. Gwendolyn Pang, General Manager of the Philippine Red Cross. “Let’s make sure our kids know how to swim, how to stay safe, and how to help others because no one should lose their life to something we can prevent. Remember SAFE water is fun water.”

Building Courage and Saving Lives

“Drowning continues to be one of the leading causes of death among children in the Philippines. That’s why we knew we had to act and that’s how MILO SAFE Swim came to life,” shared Carlo Sampan, Assistant Vice President for MILO and head of MILO Sports. “At MILO, we’ve always believed that sports build champions not just in the field, but in life. Today, we’re proud to expand that mission into the water with a program that saves lives, builds courage, and strengthens families.”

Former Olympian swimmer and coach Jenny Guerrero also expressed her support, reminding parents and kids that knowing how to swim does not automatically mean you can save yourself or others in an emergency. She emphasized that these skills must be learned and practiced.

From Safety to Confidence: Teaching the SAFE Way

More than teaching strokes, MILO SAFE Swim treats swimming as a life skill. In a country often affected by typhoons and floods, these lessons can mean the difference between panic and preparedness.

Certified PRC instructors and Bert Lozada Learn-to-Swim coaches guided participants through three main activities: a life-saving skills seminar covering CPR and first aid, an introduction to water safety with swim assessments, and hands-on demonstrations in water safety techniques.

The program also introduced the SAFE method, a set of easy-to-remember steps designed to prevent drowning and guide safe responses during water emergencies.

A Vision for Nationwide Water Safety

MILO SAFE Swim aims to make water safety as familiar to families as earthquake drills. By taking the program to communities nationwide, the organizers hope to make swimming not only a recreational activity but also a crucial skill for survival.

Families who wish to participate in future sessions can visit MILO Philippines on Facebook or join the MILO Champ Club for updates on upcoming events.