Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 7 no. 7 (2026)

Evaluation of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) Summer Lifeguard Training

Romel B. Dua

Discipline: sport and exercise sciences

 

Abstract:

Whenever lifeguards are deployed as emergency responders in leisure swimming areas or during floods, drowning incidents are prevented. But too often than not, there are fewer or no lifeguards at all, risking safety as- surance. When the Philippine Coast Guard was seasonally deployed on public beaches, this initiative was affected by human resources, financial logistics, and inconsistent implementation. As such, the Coast Guard Dis- trict Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) launched a Summer Lifeguard Training Program to capacitate coast guard personnel. After two successful trainings, no evidence-based evaluation has been made to support its ef- fectiveness. Hence, this study examines the program's effectiveness in terms of objectives, content, instructors, and facilities; evaluates lifeguard performance; and describes associated challenges to inform program im- provements. Using surveys, document review, and interviews, the study collected data from 69 PCG-trained lifeguards, 65 supervisors and com- manding officers, and 15 program implementers and course directors. Findings revealed a highly effective training program in developing essen- tial lifeguard competencies, though improvements are needed in disaster- response coverage, instructional strategies, and simulation realism, with mean range scores from 3.46 to 3.55. The PCG-trained lifeguards were also rated with a consistently advanced level of competencies with a total mean score of 3.79, showing readiness for real-world emergency response and effective training transfer. Yet there are recurring structural, logistical, and resource challenges that affect its program outcomes. Thus, a proposed en- hancement framework has been developed outlining recommendations for a systematic, participatory, and sustainable training program, fit for stand- ardized and nationwide PCG adoption.



References:

  1. Antonio, C. A. T., & Consunji, R. J. (2021). The  Epidemiology  of  Chile  Drowning Injury  in  the  Philippines.  Acta  Medica Philippina, 45(3).
  2. Artiga,  E.,  Limbo,  B.,  Maningo,  L.,  &  Mamolo, L. (2020). Effects of “Langoy sa Kaluwasan-Learn  to  Swim”  extension project to the swimming competency of barangay  emergency  response  personnel.   International   Journal   of   Human Movement  and  Sports  Sciences,  8(6), 438-443.
  3. De  Galicia,  Darcie  (2023).  Coast  Guard  re-minds  LGUs,  resort  owners  of  duty  to keep beaches safe. [Rappler] https://www.rappler.com/philip-pines/philippine-coast-guard-reminds-lgus-resort-owners-duty-keep-beaches-safe/
  4. Dong, X., Zhang, L., Wang, Z., & Zheng, Z.-J.  (2024).  Implementation  of  basic  life support  education  for  the  lay  public  in China:  barriers,  enablers,  and  possible solutions. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1390819
  5. Go, J.    J.,    Medina, G., Martinez, R., Quismundo, R., Uy, S. R., & Valdez, S. (2018).PW 2572 Strengthening  multi-sectoral actions on drowning prevention in the Philippines. Injury Prevention, 24, A163 -A163.
  6. Gray, J., Lloyd, S., Healey, S., & Opdyke, A. (2022).  Urban  and  rural  patterns  of  typhoon mortality in the Philippines. Progress in Disaster Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2022.100234.
  7. Guevarra, J. P., Peden, A. E., Orbillo, L. L., Uy, M. R. S. Z., Madrilejos, J. J. R., Go, J. J. L., ... & Franklin, R. C. (2021). Preventing  child  drowning  in  the  Philippines:  the  need  to  address  the  determi-nants of health. Children, 8(1), 29.
  8. Gupta, M., Zwi, A., & Jagnoor, J. (2020). Opportunities    for    the    development    of drowning interventions in West Bengal, India:  a  review  of  policy  and  government programs. BMC Public Health, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08868-2
  9. Kim,  N.,  & Lee,  J.-H.  (2021).  Improvement of the Qualification System for Lifeguards.   Journal of Coastal   Research, 114, 628 -632.https://doi.org/10.2112/jcr-si114-127.1
  10. Mecrow, T., Abrahams, J. F., Said, M., Baker, S., Bonney, J., Rahman, A., & Peden, A. (2024).  Provision  of  basic  swimming and  water  safety  skills  in  low-resource environments: barriers and facilitators of use of  WHO  practical guidance.  Injury Prevention, 32. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2024-045300
  11. Peden, A., Mayhew, A., & Baker, S. (2022). Experiences,  beliefs,  and  attitudes  of lifeguards from Australia and the United Kingdom toward lifeguard involvement in  flood  mitigation and  response.  International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103013.
  12. Ramos,  William  D.;  Fielding,  Roy;  Anderson, Kristina R.; and Wernicki, Peter G. MD (2021) "The Lifeguard Rescue Reporting  System:  Survey  Results  from  a Collaborative Data Collection Method," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 13: No. 2, Article 5. https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.13.02.05
  13. Santiago,  P.,  Maia,  F.,  Santiago,  S.,  Duarte, D., & Teques, P. (2022). Lifeguard Per-formance  Skills:  A  Systematic  Review. International   Journal   of   Aquatic   Research and Education. https://doi.org/10.25035/ijare.13.04.05.
  14. Sharpe,  B.,  Smith,  M.,  Williams,  S.,  Hamp-shire,  A.,  Bălăeţ,  M.,  Trender,  W., Hellyer,   P.,   Talbot,   J.,   &   Smith,   J. (2025). Beyond certification: Improving lifeguard   drowning   detection   through validated tools and specialized training. International Journal of Industrial Ergo-nomics.
  15. Tabaczek-Bejster,  I.,  Kiszka,  J.,  & Ozga,  D. (2018).  Is  the  Water  Rescue  Service  in Poland Heading in the Right Direction? Preparing Lifeguards to the Standards of First Aid in Europe. Wilderness & Environmental   Medicine,   29,   279 -281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2018.01.010.
  16. Villones,   Roda.,   Laurel,   Lovely.,   Nueva, Marilyn., Meregildo, Ivy Ann., Moreno, Alma., Macorol,     Roland Micko., Serbosquez,  Ana  Jane.,  Tarrayo,  Hanalie.,  Tobes,  Neil  Ericka.,  Turla,  Norjen.,  and Amor,  Ghilson.  (2023).  Level of   Tourist   Satisfaction   in   the   Local Beaches of Calbayog City

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic