“But I was only gone for a moment…”
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says every year, nearly 90 children drown inside the home, and two-thirds of these deaths occur in the bathtub. A child can drown in as little as 2 inches of water, and it happens quickly and silently. Every one of these tragedies is preventable.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers about hidden drowning hazards for small children in and around the home. Too many deaths are associated with common household products.
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For example:
- About two-thirds of the drowning deaths in the home, not including pools, occur in bathtubs. Some of these bathtub drowning deaths happened when children were in bath seats or rings.
- 5-gallon buckets, often used for household chores, pose a serious threat to toddlers. Their tall, straight sides combined with their stability make it nearly impossible for top-heavy infants to free themselves when they topple in headfirst.
- Toilets are often overlooked as a drowning hazard in the home. The typical scenario involves a child under 3-years-old falling headfirst into the toilet.
- Spas and hot tubs pose another drowning hazard. A solar cover can allow children to slip into the water while the cover appears to stay in place, hiding the child.
Childhood drowning deaths also occur in other containers with liquids, including pails, coolers, sinks, fish tanks and landscape ponds.
CPSC offers these safety tips to help prevent children from drowning in and around the home.
- NEVER leave a baby alone, or with young siblings, in a bathtub even for a second. Always keep baby within arm’s reach. Children can drown quickly and silently.
- Keep the toilet lid down, and keep young children out of the bathroom when unsupervised. Consider placing a latch on the bathroom door
out of reach of young children. - Be sure all containers with liquids are emptied immediately after use. Do not leave empty containers in yards or around the house where they may accumulate water and attract young children.
- Always secure the safety cover on your spa or hot tub.
- Learn CPR — cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It can be a lifesaver.