5 swimming safety tips for a fun summer

What does your beach or pool checklist look like? Food, drinks, change of clothes, sunscreen, maybe a floatation device? 

Planning and ensuring a fun summer beach vacation should always include a safe return home. Before trying to beat the heat by going swimming, read up on these reminders from a lifeguard and safety instructor and a swim school coach.

Lorenz Guevarra, a Philippine Red Cross lifeguard and safety instructor, and Anthony Lozada, CEO of the Bert Lozada Swim School, both agree that balancing active supervision and personal skill ensures that everyone on vacation is safe in the water.

Before even stepping into the surf, Guevarra also suggests a quick scan for "debris" like broken glass or jellyfish.

And by staying within a "lifeguard’s surveillance" and relying on your own skills, you can ensure a much safer vacation near the water.

This summer, it’s easy to throw caution to the wind as soon as our toes hit the sand or we set sight on the cool and inviting swimming pool. But part of enjoying your summer vacation is making sure you can come back home with good memories and in one piece! Before heading out to the beach or pool with your fur kids, family or friends, make sure to read these tips from a Red Cross lifeguard and water safety instructor.

1. Consider a 'watcher' system and keep children within arm's reach

A common mistake groups or families make is assuming that "someone" is watching the kids, creating a dangerous "supervision gap."

But according to Guevarra, "when everyone is relaxing, usually no one is watching." 

He suggests a strict "Watcher" system where one sober adult is designated to monitor the water. This duty is only handed over once the watcher can "physically ‘tag’ the next adult" for the next shift. 

For younger children or non-swimmers, the Red Cross lifeguard and safety instructor is even more direct: a supervisor must stay "within arm’s reach at all times, no exceptions.”

2. Learn to swim!

While supervision is the first line of defense, Coach Lozada emphasizes that individual ability is the ultimate safety net.

"If you know how to swim, you control your movement," Lozada said in a 2025 interview. Whether it’s managing a cramp or signaling for help, you can only truly rely on your own body.

Being a capable swimmer is "something that you can control," allowing you to float or move away from danger.

3. A word on salbabidas

He points out that inflatable "salbabidas" tend to be unreliable because they can puncture or be swept away by a wave. 

He also warns that a floatation device that's "too big may cause you to slip under it," making proper training the more reliable choice.

4. What to do in open waters

In open water, this skill is tested by hazards like rip currents. Guevarra advises that the best response to being pulled out to sea is to “Stay calm and float."

"Panic will exhaust you. Floating on your back conserves energy" Guevarra adds. Instead of fighting the water, you should "swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current" and then angle back to the beach. 

5. Be wary of heat exhaustion and alcohol intake

One of the most overlooked water safety precautions is being protected against heat exhaustion. “The scorching Philippine sun leads to heat exhaustion, which can impair judgment and lead to poor decisions in the water," Guevarra says, advising vacationers to bring more water than they think they’ll need and set up a shaded spot using an umbrella or tent for breaks.

Alcohol is a major factor in many drowning incidents, as it impairs judgment, coordination and swimming ability. Don’t have a drink and go swimming as this is a dangerous combination.

Ultimately, summer is about making memories, not headlines. By combining a vigilant "Watcher" system with the lifelong skill of swimming, you’re doing more than just packing a beach bag—you’re ensuring that the only thing your family brings home this season is a tan and a smile. — LA, GMA News