Drowning Hazards In and Around the Home
Press Release # 04-213
Audio Transcript of Chairman Hal Stratton's Soundbites
Hal Stratton: "Well, you know we have about 240 children under the age of five that drown in pools each year so that's a great concern to us. However, there's about another 110 children that drown in the home - places like bathtubs and buckets. So even though the summer's over, even though the pools are closed, you still have to remain vigilant about your children in and around water in the home.
"The number one rule is to never leave your child unattended in or around any water in the home. For instance, if the child is in the bathtub, you should never leave to answer the telephone, answer the door, or even get a towel. And if you do leave, always take your baby with you."
"Virtually every home in America has buckets, and buckets are a hidden hazard to toddlers. Toddlers can inadvertently fall into a bucket, and even if there's a small amount of water, it can be a hazard and they can drown. So when you're not using your bucket, put it away, and keep those buckets away from your kids."
"One of the trends we're seeing is more and more landscape ponds in people's backyards and gardens. These ponds can be very attractive to children because they've got fish and fountains. So never leave a child unattended near one of these ponds.