Nancy Baker: A daughter's drowning leads to pool safety reforms

Nancy Baker never envisioned becoming a leading advocate for safer pools and spas.  However, the tragic accident that killed her 7-year old daughter Graeme in 2002 prompted her to act. As she says, “It helps me make some sense of something that makes no sense at all. It was an utterly preventable and senseless death.”

Baker’s personal story, coupled with her tireless campaign to make sure such a tragedy doesn’t happen to others, is one of the chief reasons why Congress could soon enact a federal pool and spa safety bill named for Graeme. The bill, which would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to set an anti-entrapment safety standard for pool and spa covers, was passed by unanimous vote in the House in October and now awaits Senate action. The measure also encourages states, through financial incentives, to pass strong laws to require fences and anti-entrapment drain cover devices to reduce childhood drowning. Although the measure has strong bipartisan support, its fate is uncertain according to The Washington Post because the fiscal conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, (R-Okla.) has put a legislative hold on the measure, along with several dozen other bills, because they authorize new spending without offsetting that expense elsewhere in the federal budget.

Graeme Baker, who had been swimming unassisted since she was three, drowned after becoming trapped underwater by hundreds of pounds of suction force from a hot-tub drain. Graeme had gone to the graduation party of a family friend with her mother and four sisters, including her twin, Jackie. Soon after they arrived, one of Baker's daughters ran toward her and screamed, "Mommy! Mommy! Graeme is in the hot tub." Baker says: "I jumped in."

As she later testified in Congress: “It took two adults to pull her off this drain, the force so great that the cover of the drain cracked in half removing her.” 

Accidental deaths, a silent epidemic

Here’s a scary fact: Every five minutes, a person dies from an accident. The National Safety Council calls accidental deaths “a silent epidemic,” rising at an alarming rate -- more than 20 percent over 10 years -- reaching 113,000 fatalities in 2005, the latest data available.

According to a recent safety council study, accidental deaths are the fifth leading cause of death but the number of accidental fatalities is rising at a faster rate than the top four causes of death: heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease. Accidental deaths reached an all-time high of 116,385 in 1969. At the current rate of increase, annual fatalities could surpass that record in just a few years, the safety council says.

Driving the increase is the aging population, which translates into more falls and more medication, leading to accidental overdoses, the council says. The safety council also pins some of the blame on new technology that distracts drivers. Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of injury-related deaths, although they have dropped significantly from the record high of 56,278 in 1982 to 42,642 in 2006.

The second leading cause of accidental death is poisoning, particularly from overdoses of over-the-counter, prescription and illicit drugs. In fact, poisoning is the fastest-rising cause of accidental death, with a  5 percent increase in 2005 alone. Deaths from falls rank third, with choking and drowning rounding out the top five. These five leading causes account for 83 percent of all accidental deaths. But while drowning was the fifth-leading cause nationally, many states ranked fire as the fifth-leading cause of accidental death.

There is some good news from the safety council’s report. The death rate from workplace injuries has dropped by 17 percent since 1992. On the other hand, the death rate from injuries incurred at home and in community settings has increased by 30 percent for that same time period.

Accidents also accounted for more than 24 million nonfatal injuries in 2005. The economic cost of all fatal and nonfatal injuries amounted to $625.5 billion nationally, or $5,500 per household. “Our research shows that when it comes to safety, most Americans are more concerned about being the victim of a random act of violence than they are about being seriously injured in an accident,” said NSC President and CEO Alan McMillan. “The reality is that while we are at greater risk of experiencing an accidental injury, we have greater control over managing those risks.”
   
It goes without saying—be careful.

More information
For a state-by-state accident report visit the National Safety Council site.

The CPSC releases the "Top Five Hidden Home Hazards"

You  know the saying, “Home is where your heart is.” It’s also where there are a host of hidden hazards, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Every year, the commission says, 33.1 million people are injured by consumer products in the home. And many of these injuries come from products that the agency has warned about for years, everyday products such as TV stands, window blinds and magnets.

Determined to reduce these injuries, the commission is releasing its list of the home’s top five hidden hazards. At Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, we’ve written about these hazards before and, like the commission, we'll continue to publicize them in hopes consumers will take action.

MAGNETS
The facts: Since 2005, there has been one death and 86 injuries from magnets and 8 million magnetic toys have been recalled.
The problem: Today’s magnets can be very small and very powerful—so much so that when a child swallows two or more magnets or a magnet and another metal object, the items can attract through intestinal walls and get trapped in place. This can twist or pinch the intestines causing holes, blockages, infection and even death.
The solution: Watch carefully for loose magnets that may fall out of various toys and keep magnets away from children younger than six. Check any magnet toys to see if they’ve been recalled and, if so, stop using such toys immediately.

RECALLED PRODUCTS
The facts: Each year the CPSC recalls about 400 products.
The problem: Many recalled products remain in the home—and may be resold at thrift shops and garage sales. That’s particularly worrisome for many infant and baby products such as cribs and high-chairs that have been recalled for being an entrapment, entanglement or other hazard.
The solution: Check the Web site www.Recalls.gov to see if any products in your home -- or products you are about to buy -- have been recalled. And sign up for free-email notices of future recalls at  the CPSC's Web site.

TIP-OVERS
The facts: An average of 22 deaths and 3,000 injuries occur annually when TV stands, dressers, furniture and ranges tip over and crush young children. It’s a  growing problem, as deaths increased by nearly 50 percent to 31 in 2006.
The problem: Children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks and chests. If the furniture isn’t stable, it can tip over causing head trauma, injury or death. TVs placed improperly on top of furniture are a particular problem and items left on top of the TV or dressers can be particularly enticing to young children.
The solution: Make sure your furniture is stable on its own, and for added security, anchor TV stands, dressers and other pieces to the wall with an anti-tip restraint. Freestanding ranges and stoves should also have anti-tip brackets. And don’t leave toys or other attractive items atop climbable furniture.

WINDOWS AND WINDOW COVERINGS
The facts: An average of 12 deaths occur annually from window cords. And falls from windows cause nine deaths and 3,700 injuries annually  to children.
The problem: Children can strangle on window drapery and blind cords that can form a loop. And children can fall out of windows—screens offer no protection. 
The solution:  Parents should use cordless blinds or keep cords and chains permanently out of reach of children. Consumers should cut looped cords and install a safety tassel at the end of each pull cord or use a tie-down device and install inner cord stays to prevent strangulation. Never place a child’s crib or playpen within reach of a window blind.
     Parents of small children should install window guards or stops in their windows.

POOL AND SPA DRAINS
The facts: There have been 15 injuries and two fatalities reported between 2002 and 2004.
The problem: The suction from a pool drain can be so powerful it can hold an adult under water, but most incidents involve children. A body can become sealed against the drain or hair can be pulled in and tangled. Missing or broken drain covers are a major cause of entrapment incidents.
The solution: Every time you use a pool or spa, inspect it for entrapment hazards. Check to make sure appropriate drain covers are in place and undamaged. Pool and spa owners should consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System that detects when a drain is blocked and automatically shuts off the pool pump or interrupts the water circulation to prevent entrapment.  Anti-entrapment /anti-entanglement drain covers may also be able to be retrofitted on existing pools.

While we applaud the CPSC for highlighting these safety issues, we also recognize that there are many more hazards that consumers may not be aware of that can endanger their families.  We will continue to use this blog to inform you of the issues you need to know to keep your family safe. 

For more information:
Magnets in toys attract scrutiny from CPSC, Congress

Latest recalls from the CPSC and FDA

Safety alert: furniture fails to meet tip-over standards

Keeping baby safe: Childproofing your home

Window falls a preventable risk to young children

Tragic incident highlights need for pool safety law

Tragic incident highlights need for pool safety law

Earlier this month, at the Minneapolis Golf Club, a 6-year-old girl was seriously injured when the strong suction of an exposed pool drain sucked out part of her intestines. All the details of that incident aren't available, but we know that injuries and fatalities can be prevented through proper drain covers in swimming pools and spas. On existing pools, special safety drain covers can be installed; for new or renovated pools, there are safety vacuum release systems or dual drains.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the Minneapolis incident. Unfortunately, the issue is not new to the commission. In congressional testimony last year, the CPSC said that it knew of 74 cases of body entrapment, including 13 deaths, between 1990 and 2004. The deaths were caused after the body, or a limb, was held against a drain by the suction of the circulation pump. There have also been 43 incidents of hair entanglement in pools, spas and hot tubs between 1990 and 2004, with 12 drowning deaths when the hair becoming entangled in drain grates. 

The Minneapolis tragedy may be the proof Congress needs to enact a law requiring anti-entrapment drain covers on all pools and spas. Such a measure was passed by the Senate Commerce Committee last year but died at the end of the congressional term. This year, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has already held a hearing on the bill and just after the Minneapolis incident Rep. Jim Ramstad sent a letter to his colleagues saying the horrible tragedy "shows the absolute pressing need to pass" the bill to prevent future swimming pool tragedies. And today, a bipartisan group of senators introduced similar legislation. That bill is named the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, after the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker. The young Baker died several years ago, at the age of seven, after becoming entrapped in a spa drain; it took several adults to help pry her free from the force of the drain; unfortunately, they were not in time to save her.

As Sen. Pryor said in introducing the bill: “Adult supervision is always a critical safety factor to prevent pool accidents. But when manufacturers put profit above safety, sometimes it’s not enough. ... This legislation is a simple solution to prevent major heartbreak.” 

See also:

• H.R. 1721, Pool and Spa Safety Act
• Consumers Union's testimony (PDF)
• CPSC Public Service Announcement: Toddler Drownings Happen Quickly and Silently
  Text | Audio (MP3) | Video (requires Windows Media Player) 
• Make sure your pool is child-safe this summer
• Keep kids safe around water year-round
• Pool safety bill treading water
• Inflatable pool hazards
• Three pool alarms Not Acceptable
• CPSC Publications (PDFs):
  Swimming Pool Safety Alert
  Safety Barrier Guidelines for Pools
  How to Plan for the Unexpected
  Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards: Making Pools and Spas Safer

Set sail safely this summer

Anchors Away! Yes, it's that time of year — when boating,  deep-water fishing, water skiing and other water sports are so appealing.

But once again, since our mission is safety, we want to remind you that certain basic rules are in order, especially if you don't want to be included in the U.S. Coast Guard's annual boating statistics. In 2005, the latest year for which figures are available, there were nearly 5,000 boating accidents, resulting in 697 fatalities and 3,451 injuries.

So take care:

• Always wear life jackets. According to the Coast Guard, nearly 90 percent of people who drown in boating accidents aren't wearing life jackets. Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets. For children, make sure the jacket is the right size (not too loose) and properly belted. Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should never be used as life jackets or life preservers.
• Remember, alcohol and boating do not mix. Alcohol was involved in about a third of all boating fatalities in 2004.
• Don't overload your boat with passengers and/or gear.
• Develop a water plan — about where you're going and for how long — and give it to a responsible person who will remain onshore.
• Be alert to local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Head back to shore if skies look threatening or you see or hear a storm.
• Guard against carbon monoxide from the boat engine — both in the boat and in the water. If your boat has a gas engine to generate electricity (to run an air conditioner in a cabin, for instance) make sure there's proper ventilation. And install carbon monoxide detectors in sleeping and a living quarters.
• Discourage anyone from the new and growing sport of "teak surfing," where an individual holds onto the teak swim platform of a vessel while a wake builds, then lets go to body surf the wave created by the boat. The Coast Guard says the teak surfer is directly exposed to the CO in the engine exhust and this could result in a loss of coherent responsnes or even death (it could also expose the surfer to possible propeller injury).   
• If you're the pilot, take a boat safety course. If you're a passenger, make sure the pilot has taken such a course.  The Coast Guard says over 70 percent of the reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety information.

And if you're water-skiing, take some extra precautionary steps. Here are some tips from Mayo Clinic:

• Know what you're doing — take lessons before you put those skis on.
• Make sure your life jacket fits; the brighter the color, the better.
• Don't ski after dark and avoid heavily traveled boating lanes — or areas reserved for fishing.
• Make sure there are at least two other people in the boat: the driver needs to be paying attention to what's ahead; there should be another person watching you.
• Make sure you all know the hand signals to slow down, speed up and turn around.
• One more thing: don't approach a boat with a running motor. The propellers, needless to say, are dangerous.

See also:

• Safety alert: Carbon monoxide hazards on boats
• Beware carbon-monoxide hazards on the water
• Coast Guard Boating Statistics 2005 (PDF)
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Life Jackets and Life Preservers
• Coast Guard press release on teak surfing

Bill could make pools and spas safer

Last month, a 3-year-old boy from Long Island, NY drowned in his neighbor’s swimming pool. The child snuck out of his house and climbed the neighbor’s 4-foot fence to get into the pool. Like most drownings, his death was silent.

Every year, about 260 children under five drown in swimming pools. An additional 2,725 children are treated annually in emergency rooms for pool submersion injuries. Drowning is second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death of children under 14.  

Child drowning is tragic, yet preventable. That's why Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, testified in early June at a Congressional hearing in support of the Pool and Spa Safety Act - H.R. 1721. The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection heard testimony on four pending safety bills.  

The Pool and Spa Safety Act would provide a $5 million annual grant over the next five years to the CPSC for administering drowning prevention campaigns and encouraging states to enhance pool and spa safety laws. The measure would also require safer drain systems on pools and spas to prevent the powerful suction of drains from entrapping people under water. 

Our testimony applauded the goals of bill but raised concerns that it doesn’t adequately address many of the safety issues involving inflatable pools, which are a growing hazard. We also supported the need for layers of protection to keep pools safe, including non-climbable fences with self-closing and self-latching gates, safety covers for in-ground pools, alarms for doors leading from the house to the pool area, and pool alarms.  

There was no pool alarm in the Long Island pool; if there had been, the 3-year-old boy may have been saved. Although New York State passed a law that went into effect at the end of last year requiring pool alarms for all new swimming pools, it doesn't require retrofitting existing pools (Suffolk County, where last month's accident occurred, is considering a bill that would require alarms on all pools). That's a critical — and possibly life-saving — step that all pool owners should take.

See Also:

• H.R. 1721, Pool and Spa Safety Act
• Consumers Union's testimony (PDF)
• CPSC Public Service Announcement: Toddler Drownings Happen Quickly and Silently
  Text | Audio (MP3) | Video (requires Windows Media Player) 
• Make sure your pool is child-safe this summer
• Keep kids safe around water year-round
• Inflatable pool hazards
• Three pool alarms Not Acceptable
• CPSC Publications (PDFs):
  Swimming Pool Safety Alert
  Safety Barrier Guidelines for Pools
  How to Plan for the Unexpected
  Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards: Making Pools and Spas Safer

This is the third blog entry in a series concerning a Congressional hearing on pending product safety legislation.

Previous entries in this series:

• Product registration cards can save lives
• Gas can safety gets a hearing

Make sure your pool is child-safe this summer

To most kids — and many adults as well — Memorial Day is synonymous with the official opening of swimming-pool season. 

We would also like to mark that day with a big splash: We’d like to remind one and all that there’s a very serious side to swimming pools: Every year, about 260 children under five drown in swimming pools. As the Consumer Product Safety Commission notes, that amounts to almost one nursery school class a month. An additional 2,725 children are treated annually in emergency rooms for pool submersion injuries, most occurring in residential pools. 

So whether it’s your own pool or a neighbor’s, please make sure the owner has taken multiple steps to reduce the risk of injuries and drownings. That’s particularly true of the increasingly popular inflatable pools that can be purchased rather inexpensively at mass merchants. These pools, which usually stand 18 inches to 4 feet high, can hold from 200 to more than 5,000 gallons of water. They may be quick and easy to install, but they are still a drowning hazard, particularly because many if not most of these pools are installed without fencing and other barriers or layers of protection from drowning.  Inflatable pool have flexible sides that are all too easy for a child to topple over, and they are currently not covered by a safety standard (though we are working on that). Between 2004 and 2006, the CPSC received 47 reports of childhood deaths related to inflatable pools. 

Although these pools may not always be required by local zoning laws to have barriers around them, owners should follow the same care and procedures that they would if they owned an in-ground pool. That means a fence and other layers of protection to prevent a young child from gaining unsupervised access to the pool. Specifically: 

1. Never leave children unattended or unsupervised, even for a moment, in or around swimming pools.   
2. Whether it’s an in-ground pool or an inexpensive inflatable one, you need to place a fence completely around it.  The fence should be 4-feet high, non-climbable, and with self-closing and self-latching gates. If your house opens directly to the pool, make sure you install an alarm on the door from the house to alert you if your youngster may have gone out to the pool. 
3. When pool is not in use, use a pool safety cover.  Never allow a child to climb on the covers since they can collapse and entangle a child under water. 
4. Use a a pool alarm.  Pool alarms are designed to raise an alert if someone enters the water when he or she is not supposed to. Since not all pool alarms work well.  Check out our report on pool alarms for more details. 
5. Make sure your pool drain has a safety cover or a safety vacuum release system that prevents entrapment or entanglement.    
6. For above ground pools, remove ladders when the pool is not in use, as well as any toys or floats that could attract children to the water. 
7. Be prepared for the unexpected and for emergencies by keeping life preservers, rescue hooks and a cordless phone with emergency numbers near the pool. And parents who own pools should learn CPR. 
8. Make sure your pump and filter are protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to prevent electric shock. 
9. Drain wading and kiddie pools when not in use and turn them upside down.

Remember, if a child is missing, check the pool first. Drownings happen quickly — and often quietly. As CPSC chairman Nancy Nord notes: “Parents may think that if their child falls in the water, they will hear lots of splashing and screaming, and that they will be able to come to the rescue. Many times, however, children slip under the water silently. Even people near the pool often report hearing nothing out of the ordinary." 

So on this Memorial Day, let’s not make drownings another cause for memorials. 

See also: 

• • CPSC Public Service Announcement: Toddler Drownings Happen Quickly and Silently
      Text | Audio (MP3) | Video (requires Windows Media Player) 
• • Keep kids safe around water year-round
• • Inflatable pool hazards 
• • Three pool alarms Not Acceptable
• • CPSC Publications (PDFs)
      Swimming Pool Safety Alert
      Safety Barrier Guidelines for Pools
      How to Plan for the Unexpected
      Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards: Making Pools and Spas Safer

The dry facts about mixing electricity and water

We all know that electricity and water do not mix. But there are a host of other outdoor electrical hazards that we may not be aware of — or have forgotten over the years. And given that the Electrical Safety Foundational International has declared May Electrical Safety Month, now may be just the right time for a refresher course.

First, make sure any electrical product you use outside is intended for outdoor use. Why? Unless an electrical product is designed to be weather resistant, a sudden summer shower can ruin the product and turn it into a serious shock hazard. Most electrical products intended for continuous outdoor use have heavily insulated cords and molded-on plugs to prevent moisture from seeping in. If in doubt, check the manual where there may be a warning for “Indoor Use Only.”

Similarly, only use extension cords marked for outdoor use. And use only the length you need. With a cord above 100 feet, you can lose power and that, in turn, could lead to dangerous overheating. If the cord is three or four years old, check it for damage and replace if necessary.

Of course, we all know than electrical appliances and power tools should never be used while they are wet or close to water. And if an electrical product does fall into water, do not reach into the water for it. Make sure you are dry and not in contact with water or metal surfaces — and then unplug the product immediately.

When using an electrical product, make sure it is:

• Plugged in and turned on only when in use. 
• Turned off and in lock position when being carried or hooked up to attachments like mower baskets or saw blades. And don’t’ carry it by the cord. 
• Stored indoors (with a few exceptions such as an electric barbecue grill which can be covered and kept outside) and away from water and excessive heat. 
• Never left unattended outside, even temporarily. If there is a key, remove it so no curious child or unqualified adult can misuse it.

What about battery-operated products? They should also be stored indoors so they won’t be subjected to a higher moisture level or a sudden rainstorm. And don’t use cordless tools near gaseous or explosive materials since sparks from their motors might cause fires or explosions.
To recharge batteries, plug the charger into an indoor electrical outlet, never into an extension cord. As for storing extra batteries: keep them away from metal objects such as wire or nails because such contact can cause a large current flow, possibly leading to burns or fires.

More information from the Electrical Safety Foundational International is available here.

Microwave urban legend shouldn't obscure real risks

A reader recently forwarded us an email that he felt was important enough for us to publicize. Here it is: 

"A 26-year old decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up. (Something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he told me he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face, which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. ..."

On investigation, we discovered that the reader had never met the 26-year-old burn victim. It was simply a story making the rounds on the Internet, almost identical to one that’s been around for several years, according to Snopes.com, the tracker of urban legends. 

However, that doesn’t mean that we should immediately discard this email as worthless. It does remind us about safe microwave use. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission data, about 4,000 Americans incur injuries from microwaves every year. Almost a third of these injuries are burns and scalds. So while it may seem like a no-brainer to boil that cup of water in the microwave, think again. According to the Food and Drug Administration and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, over-heating water in a cup can result in superheated water -- or water heated past its boiling temperature. The water does not appear to be boiling, because the air bubbles that trigger boiling have been expelled. The liquid is just waiting to boil.  A speck of dust or a tiny air bubble caused by movement or a slight vibration can initiate vigorous boiling and occasionally cause a violent eruption. 

The AHAM says consumers need to be particularly careful with tall cups and containers because the energy that builds as the temperature rises is forceful enough to eject the liquid. This phenomenon seems more likely if water is heated in a clean cup. The risk is reduced if foreign materials such as instant coffee or sugar are added before heating. AHAM advises consumers to stir liquids before heating them in the microwave to help prevent sudden boil overs. Also, do not heat liquid for more than 2 minutes (and considerably less time if you have less than a cup). After heating, allow the liquid to stand in the microwave for 30 seconds before moving it or putting anything into it. 

More: Tips for safe microwave use from the FDA

No fish story: Watch out for flying carp

Fishing doesn’t seem like an activity you should have to wear protective gear to participate in, but perhaps you should think twice before heading out onto the waters of the MississippiRiver Basin without a helmet on your head or protective netting on your boat. This week The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "High-Flying Carp Pose a Threat to Fisherman," which highlighted the dangers posed by the imported Asian silver carp. These "flying" fish, which can grow to be up to 3 feet long and 60 pounds in weight, have injured fishermen and damaged equipment by leaping into moving boats due to the fact that they have a tendency to jump (as high as eight feet) when they hear the rumble of a motorboat or any other strange noise. Not only are silver carp dangerous projectiles targeting fisherman; biologists are concerned the species could spread throughout the U.S. and compete with native species for food and habitat. These concerns have prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose a ban on the importation and interstate transport of live silver and large scale silver carp. Until that happens, you may just want to keep that bicycle or football helmet at the ready.

Keep kids safe around water year-round

 

Summer's over. But that doesn't mean you can be complacent about water hazards. In fact, one third of all childhood drownings don't involve swimming pools but rather everyday products that are in or around homes such as bathtubs, buckets and other containers, toilets, hot tubs or spas, landscape or fish ponds and decorative fountains.

As a result, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued a reminder to parents and caregivers: When it comes to children and water -- even if it's just a few inches -- always be on your guard. 

According to the CPSC, an average of about 280 children younger than five drown in swimming pools each year. Another 150 children drown at home, with bathtubs posing the biggest risk. For 2002, the latest year for complete data, the CPSC said 69 children younger than five drowned in bathtubs. Another nine deaths involved spas or hot tubs; six involved buckets, while toilets accounted for two drownings.

Four out of every five bathtub drownings happened when the child was left unattended in the tub, the CPSC said. There were six drownings even when the drains were left open in the tub. "The parent or caregiver assumed the open drain would prevent the bathtub from filling up and left the bathroom. When they returned, the drain was closed or clogged, the water had filled the bathtub and the child was submerged."

What the CPSC didn't mention in its data was how many bathtub drownings involved baby bath seats. For years, consumer groups, including Consumers Union (the publisher of Consumer Reports) have been calling for a ban on those devices, which are promoted as a tool that makes it easier to bathe babies. Consumer groups have argued that these seats give parents a false sense of safety and are thus an unreasonable risk. Parents, thinking babies are secure, are more prone to leave the baby alone even briefly or fill the tub with more water. The result is not a pleasant one: babies slip out or are entrapped and drowned. 

The CPSC's own data shows 96 deaths involving bath seats between 1983 and 2002; five of those occurred in 2002. The agency is now working with the industry to develop a voluntary safety standard to reduce tipovers and entrapment. But Consumers Union still thinks this product is a risk and should be banned. Our advice: parents should avoid baby bath seats altogether. Use a sink or a small bathing tub that holds only a small amount of water, cradling your infant throughout the bath. And bath seat or not, never turn your back on an infant in a bathtub. Our most recent report on bath seats is available here:

      Here's other advice from the  CPSC:

• First and foremost, never leave young children alone near any water. Young children can drown even in small amounts of liquid.
• Never leave a child alone for even a second in the bathtub; always keep the child within arm's reach, even when you have to answer the phone or grab a towel. And don't leave a baby or toddler in the tub under care of another young child.
• Keep toilet lids closed to prevent access to water. To keep younger children from opening the lids, consider using toilet clips. You may even want to use bathroom door latches, out of reach of young children of course, to keep youngsters out of bathrooms altogether.
• Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where children can't reach it. Buckets left outside can collect rainwater and are a hazard. Toddlers can fall headfirst into a 4- and 5-gallon bucket and drown.
• Secure safety covers and barriers to spas and hot tubs when not in use . Non-rigid covers (such as solar covers) do not provide protection from drowning; they can appear to be in place, even after children slip underneath them in to the water.
• And lastly, learn CPR. When seconds count, it could make the difference.

Pool safety bill treading water

n this era of extreme partisan politics, we are happy to cite an issue -- a product-safety issue, no less -- that has brought  Republicans and Democrats together.

Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bill to reduce the risks of drowning and entrapment in swimming pools and spas. The measure was prompted in large part by the tragic death of Virginia Graeme Baker, the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker. The young Baker died four years ago at the age of seven after becoming entrapped in a spa drain; it took several adults to help pry her free from the force of the drain; unfortunately, they were not in time to save her.

The bill approved last week requires anti-entrapment drain covers on all pools and spas. It also creates incentive grants to states that pass laws requiring safeguards to prevent drowning, drain entrapment and entanglement in swimming pools and spas.

Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death among children ages one to four, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit group that has been pushing for the legislation. In congressional testimony last spring, the CPSC said it was aware of 74 cases of body entrapment, including 13 deaths between 1990 and 2004. These deaths were the result of drowning after the body, or a limb, was held against a drain by the suction of the circulation pump. CPSC said it also knew of 43 incidents of hair entanglement in pools, spas and hot tubs between 1990 and 2004.  Twelve of these incidents resulted in drowning deaths as a result of hair becoming entangled in drain grates.

Although the measure has bipartisan support, it has to overcome some strong currents if it is to be passed this year. The Senate left for its election recess last week without taking up the measure. And it's unclear if it will be considered if Congress returns for a lame-duck session. If so, "it's possible that the bill could be taken up at that time -- or reintroduced next year," said David Snepp, spokesman for Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), the bill's sponsor.   

Although horrific, drain entrapment occurs rarely compared to drowning of unsupervised children falling into a pool. Though CU supports the legislation that requires safer pool and spa drains, even more deaths could be prevented if all pools and spas were required to have recommended layers of protection, including a 48" nonclimbable fence with a self-closing, self-latching lockable gate, a pool safety cover, and an effective pool alarm.   

Meanwhile, parents and caretakers also need to be vigilant about other water hazards around the home. More on that next week.