The RESTUBE Philippines Water Safety Guide is a free, chapter-based online resource on water safety for everyone who spends time in, on or around the water in the Philippines. Every figure is shown with its source and year, drawn from organisations such as the WHO, the Department of Health, the Philippine Statistics Authority and peer-reviewed research, and adapted to Philippine beaches, rivers, typhoon season and holiday peaks. New chapters are added regularly.
Topics & contents
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Water Safety Study
Drowning figures in the Philippines vary by who counts and how. These three articles bring together official counts, research estimates and police reports, with the source and year beside every number.
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Basics & Risks
The sea, rivers and weather in the Philippines each carry their own risks. Learn to read a rip current, understand PAGASA warnings and understand common marine hazards.
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Prevention
Most drownings can be prevented with a few habits: supervise, use flotation, choose guarded places and know the conditions. These articles turn international evidence into steps you can use.
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Training & Education
Knowing how to swim, and knowing who can teach and guard you, lowers the risk. Find out where to start, how to prepare for open water, and which organisations provide training.
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Water Rescue & Emergency Care
Drowning is quiet and quick. These articles explain how to recognise it, who to call, how to help without becoming a second victim and what first aid can do while help arrives.
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Every 2 min.
someone drowns somewhere in the world
Only 22%
of countries teach water safety in schools
4,196
people drown in the Philippines in an average year, counting floods and boat accidents
1 in 4
drowning victims is a child under 5
Most Read
Start with the articles most people need: the numbers, prevention, recognising drowning, rip currents and keeping children safe.
Drowning in the Philippines: the numbers
How many people drown in the Philippines each year? Official counts, WHO estimates and why the real number is higher, with sources and dates.
Read Article →How to prevent drowning
How to prevent drowning, based on WHO's six evidence-based measures. Barriers, supervision, swim skills, rescue training, safer boats and floods, with Philippine examples.
Read Article →Recognising drowning and getting help
Drowning is quiet and fast. Learn the signs, how to call 911 or the Coast Guard, and how to help without becoming a second victim: reach, throw, don't go.
Read Article →Rip currents and how to escape them
What a rip current is, how to spot one at Philippine beaches, and what to do if you are caught: float, swim sideways, signal for help. Sources cited.
Read Article →Kids and water safety in the Philippines
How to keep children safe around water in the Philippines. Touch supervision, wells and drains, buckets and tubs, life jacket fit, swim lessons by age, and Holy Week tips.
Read Article →Disclaimer
The content of the RESTUBE Philippines Water Safety Guide is provided for informational purposes only. We cite our sources and review articles with care, but we cannot guarantee that information is complete, current or free from error.
Nothing in this guide is professional advice of any kind, including medical, legal or safety instruction, and it is not a substitute for qualified training, certified first aid courses or official safety regulations. In an emergency, call 911.
Conditions and rules vary by place and change quickly. Always follow local authorities, lifeguards and official advisories such as those from PAGASA and the Philippine Coast Guard, and use the information in this guide at your own risk.