Protecting your child from drowning hazards
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Protecting your child from drowning hazards
An infant or young child can drown in as little as
- Do not leave babies and young children alone in the bathtub or a swimming or wading pool. If a baby slips or rolls and lands face down, he or she may not be able to turn over. Bathing seats or flotation devices may be used, but they do not protect against drowning and are not a substitute for your attention.
- Do not leave babies and young children alone around filled buckets, such as 5-gallon buckets used for cleaning. Empty buckets after each use, and keep them out of children's reach. Buckets have tall, straight sides, which makes it very difficult for infants and young children to escape once they have fallen in.
- Leave toilet lids down. Keep young children out of the bathroom without your direct supervision. Make sure your toddler knows that the toilet is not a toy. Toilets are drowning hazards, especially for children younger than 3. An older baby or young child can fall headfirst into the water and not be able to climb back out. Consider using toilet safety latches that keep the lid locked in the closed position.
- Empty all liquid containers immediately after use. Make sure all empty containers are out of reach of young children and babies. Do not leave them in the yard or around the house. They can accumulate water and become a drowning hazard.
- Empty ice chests immediately after use, and keep lids closed. Store out of children's reach.
- Watch children closely outdoors, especially where wells, open postholes, and irrigation or drainage ditches are nearby. Fill holes and install fences or other barriers to protect your child. Make sure pools are fenced off and have covers that lock. Don't let a child out of your sight while you are doing yard work or other outdoor activities.
References
Citations
Consumer Product Safety Commission (2002). Prevent Child In-Home Drowning Deaths. Consumer Product Safety Alert. Available online: http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/drown.html.
Credits
| Author | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
| Last Updated | January 5, 2007 |
| Last updated: | January 05, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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