Avoid drowning accidents

The beginning of fall might signal the end of outdoor swimming and the closing of pools in many parts of the country, but drowning risks don’t go away, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

According to data released by the CPSC on September 28, 311 nonpool drownings of children younger than 5 years old were reported from 2002 through 2004, with more than 80 percent of those accidental deaths happening to children younger than 2 years old. (For pool-related incidents, children under 2 accounted for 38 percent of deaths involving those younger than 5.)

Seventy-one percent of nonpool drownings involved a bathtub. The CPSC reports that many bathtub incidents occurred when caregivers left a child unattended; in some cases, an older sibling was tending to a younger brother or sister.

"Infants and toddlers need particularly close supervision," said Nancy Nord, acting chairwoman of the CPSC. "Drowning can occur within seconds in only inches of water.”

The basic message is to never leave young children alone near a bathtub, spa, bucket, or decorative pond or fountain. Also follow this advice from the CPSC:
• Always keep a young child within arm's reach in a bathtub. Never leave the bathroom for any reason, including to answer the phone or door or get a towel. If you must leave the room, take your child with you.
• Don't put one of your older children in charge of a baby or toddler in a bathtub.
• Keep your child(ren) from gaining access to a spa or hot tub, and always secure the spa/tub with a proper safety cover and barrier.
• Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Your toddler could fall headfirst into the bucket and drown. Always empty buckets and store them out of reach of young children. (A bucket that fills with rain could become a hazard.)
• Learn CPR—you could save a life. Contact the local branch of the Red Cross to find a training course near you.

Essential information: To get a free copy of the CPSC’s “Prevent Child In-Home Drowning Death,” send an e-mail to publications@cpsc.gov or call 800-638-2772.