Did you know that after pools, more children younger than 5 years old drown in bathtubs than in any other product in and around your home? Most bathtub drowning and near-drowning incidents are to children under the age of 2.
From 2004-2006, nearly 100 children younger than 5 years of age drowned each year in bathtubs, baby bath seats or bathinettes, buckets and pails and in landscaping or yard products. Sixty-three percent of those drowning were in bathtubs; 12 percent were in baby bath seats or bathinettes.
Given this, the following water safety tips bear reminding:
- Never leave young children alone, even for a moment, near any water. Young children can drown quickly in even small amounts of water.
- Always keep a young child within arm’s reach in a bathtub. If you must leave, take the child with you.
- Don’t leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.
- Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Toddlers can fall headfirst into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Don’t leave buckets outside where they can collect rainwater.
- Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.
