 |
IN PHOTO: MILO® SAFE Swim
participants practicing water safety techniques. |
To mark World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, MILO and
the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) held the biggest event yet of the MILO® Safe Swim
program last July 27 at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, equipping participants
with essential water safety and first aid skills to combat rising child
drowning cases in the Philippines.
 |
| Philippine Red Cross is conducting CPR training for MILO® SAFE Swim participants. |
Why MILO® SAFE Swim Matters
According to the World Health Organization (2019), drowning is
the third leading cause of unintentional injury death in the Philippines, accounting
for 31% of such deaths among children under 14 years old. Introduced in 2024 as
a nationwide initiative, MILO® SAFE Swim has already made stops in Davao,
Cagayan de Oro, Ilocos Sur, Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, Pampanga, and Pasig,
reaching communities across the country to promote water safety awareness and
equip families with life-saving knowledge in response to this alarming
statistic.
“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.”
 |
Dr. Gwendolyn Pang explaining the
SAFE swim method. |
“Drowning continues to be one of the leading causes of death
among children in the Philippines. That’s way 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.”
“Swimming is more than just a sport. Hindi porket
competitive swimmer ako, I can save myself and save others in times of
emergencies. Hindi ‘yon automatic, natutunan po ‘yan,” former Olympian swimmer
and now swimming coach Jenny Guerrero also showed her support, spotlighting the
growing momentum behind the campaign.
From Safety to Confidence: Teaching Kids to Swim the SAFE
Way
More than just swim lessons, MILO® SAFE Swim emphasizes that
swimming is an essential life skill, especially in a country prone to typhoons
and flooding. Through its practical and accessible sessions, the program
empowers families to stay safe and respond effectively to water-related
emergencies, whether in pools, natural bodies of water like rivers and lakes, or
during calamities.
Certified PRC instructor, together with Bert Lozada
Learn-to-Swim (BLSS) coaches, led three core sessions: (1) life-saving skills
seminar covering CPR and first aid. (2) Introduction to water safety with swim
assessments, and (3) hands-on water safety demonstrations.
To make water safety clear and memorable, MILO® introduced
the SAFE method, their take on the ABCs of swimming:
 |
Official MILO® SAFE Swim Poster
These simple yet vital steps are designed to prevent
drowning and empower individuals to respond confidently in water emergencies.
A Movement Toward Widespread Water Safety Awareness
MILO® SAFE Swim is a long-term advocacy that envisions water safety,
especially the SAFE method, as second nature to ‘duck, cover, and hold’ in
earthquake drills.
By reaching communities nationwide, the program aspires to
make swimming not just a recreational activity but a life-saving
skill, critical in a country like the Philippines, where water-related
emergencies are common.
To learn more about MILO® SAFE Swim and its upcoming legs,
visit MILO® Philippines on Facebook and join the MILO® Champ Club.
Let's be
friends and connect with me on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest
No comments:
Post a Comment