MILO® Philippines has launched the MILO® Safe Swim – Drown Prevention Program in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross to make sports more accessible to Filipino children. The program provides foundational skills and techniques for staying safe in and around water. Drowning is a leading cause of death among Filipino children aged 0-14, with an average of 3,200 deaths annually due to a lack of emergency skills and training. MILO® and the Philippine Red Cross aim to encourage water confidence and safety in both parents and kids, reducing the risk of more drowning incidents in the country.
The first programs were held across Quezon City, Pasig City, and Cavite City with the participation of nearby elementary school kids as they began their journey in water safety with Swimtech, which delivered fundamental swimming instruction.
The swimming segment focused on basic water skills like floating, kicking, and staying calm, all serving as important techniques that form the backbone of drowning prevention. By learning these essentials, children are equipped to respond to situations that may lead to panic or drowning. Each participant gained skills that emphasized staying afloat and moving safely in the water, allowing them to build confidence and feel empowered during water activities.
The program’s second half was led by experts from the Philippine Red Cross, who introduced children to first aid and emergency rescue techniques specifically designed for water safety. The kids learned the critical “reach, throw, don’t go” approach, which teaches them how to assist others in trouble without endangering themselves.
This segment also included basic first aid principles, such as identifying safe and unsafe water practices, and ensuring participants gained the skills and knowledge to act responsibly in emergencies. The Philippine Red Cross training added a new layer of preparedness, emphasizing that knowing what to do can make a crucial difference in an emergency.
Through the MILO® Safe Swim program, both kids and parents have learned invaluable lessons — not only the technical skills but also the mindset and confidence to be safe in and around water. With this initiative, MILO® aims for parents to see their children grow more self-assured and prepared, and for children to develop a deeper understanding of water safety fundamentals, contributing to a community-wide sense of water preparedness.
With the success of this year’s program, MILO® Safe Swim will expand to more cities nationwide next year. For more information on the program, visit https://www.milo.com.ph/ and the MILO® Facebook page.
