Health Topics

More than half of all infant (under age 1) drownings occur in bathtubs. Supportive baby bathtub "rings" do not prevent drownings if the child is unsupervised. Water hazards in and around the home may include:

• Buckets (especially 5-gallon size) 
• Diaper pails
• Toilets
• Ice chests with melted ice
• Hot tubs, spas, whirlpools
• Ditches and post holes
• Wells
• Ponds and fountains

Small children can drown when they lean forward to look into a bucket or open the toilet. Because the head is the heaviest part of a small child, it is easy for him or her to fall over into a container. Containers filled with liquid often weigh more than the small child and will not tip over when the child falls in. 

More than half of childhood drownings occur in swimming pools, either at the child's home or at a friend's, neighbor's or relative's house. Pools are especially hazardous if:

• Children swim unsupervised
• The pool is not properly fenced in
• There is no telephone with emergency numbers nearby
• There is no rescue equipment near the pool
• Parents rely on personal flotation devices (PFDs) to keep their child safe

Swimming Lessons Warning

Although swimming lessons for toddlers are a good way of introducing them to the water, children are not developmentally ready until the age of 4 to learn how to swim properly and safely.

In addition, swimming lessons do not ensure that your child will be safe in the water, even after the age of 4. Children who know how to swim can still drown just a few feet from safety because of confusion or fear.

When boating, sailing and canoeing, children of all ages should wear US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) such as life jackets. In fact, many states require the use of PFDs on all boats at all times. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the majority of boating-related drownings can be prevented if people wear PFDs.

Personal Flotation Device Warning

On boats, PFDs should be US Coast Guard-approved. Blow-up swimming devices such as "water wings," rafts, toys and other items are not considered safe and should not be relied on to prevent drowning.