I have a 6 foot piece of 1.25 diameter tubing that I use on every batch. Tube fits perfectly in my fermenters (your opening may be different - check before you buy tubing). I use it on every batch, and put the other end in about a half pint of sanitized water (don't use too much or it can suck back into the fermenter if the temperature drops). I also use fermcap every time. Fermcap doesn't seem to work well with Belgians, and I often push the capacity of my fermenter. It is 7 gallons, I put over 6.5 gallons in it last brew, and lost ~1 pint thru it ...... I hate losing beer!!! Without the tube I would have had to clean up a mess.
Like you, I learned my lesson the hard way about 20 years ago. Not had an issue in the last 250 brews.
I have gotten so used to using the tube rather than the airlock, that it is not much more extra effort to use it.
As others have said, keep the temp down.