CPSC Warns: Pools Are Not the Only Drowning Danger at Home for Kids
Data Show Other Hazards Cause More than 100 Residential Child Drowning Deaths Annually
Press Release # 02-169
Transcript
TEXT: BATHTUBS. Children drowning in bathtubs account for about two-thirds of the 459 reported drowning deaths in the home. The majority of these bathtub deaths occur when the caregiver is not present. Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub for even a second. Always keep the baby in arm's reach. Don't leave a baby in the care of another young child. Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, to get a towel or for any other reason. If you must leave, take the baby with you.
(View of an adult giving a child a bath. Telephone rings). The adult speaks into the phone "Hello? Can I call you back? I'm giving Joshua a bath right now. Ok, bye bye".
Sound of doorbell ringing while an adult is giving a child a bath. The adult says "Uh oh, who can that be at the door? Let's go see who's at the door". (View of Adult picking child out of the bathtub to attend to whoever is at the door).
(View of Adult draining bathtub full of water).
TEXT: BABY BATH SEATS. A baby bath seat is not a substitute for supervision. A bath seat is a bathing aid, not a safety device. Even when a child is in a bath seat, you should always be within arm's reach. Never use a baby bath seat in a non-skid, slip-resistant bathtub because the suction cups will not adhere to the bathtub surface or can detach unexpectedly.
(Views of drawings of baby doll simulation of baby bath seat hazards. View of adult holding bath seat over bath tub, pointing out suction cups and demonstrating how the bath seat can slide. View of a doll in a water filled bathtub in a baby bath seat - the bath seat is tipped over with the doll's head below water).
TEXT: BUCKETS. Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. When finished using a bucket, always empty it immediately. Store buckets where young children cannot access them.
(View of adult mopping the floor. A young child walks over to the bucket and sticks his hand inside). The Adult says "Joshua, NO!" (The adult picks up the child and removes him from the bucket. View of adult emptying liquid from the bucket into the kitchen sink and storing empty bucket in a secured cabinet).
TEXT: Bucket Drowing. (Baby Doll Simulation)
(View of doll head first inside of a bucket).
TEXT: TOILETS. The typical drowning scenario with a toilet involves a child under 3-years-old falling headfirst into the toilet.
Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the water and consider using a toilet clip to stop young children from opening the lids. Lock the door to prevent access when the bathroom is not in use.
(Views of child with his hand in toilet. Adult comes into the bathroom, picks the child up away from the toilet). The adult says "This is not for you". The bathroom door is shut and locked. View of toilet with a toilet clip on the the lid).
TEXT: SPAS AND HOT TUBS. Always secure the safety cover on your spa or hot tub when it is not in use. Some non-rigid covers, such as solar covers can allow a small child to slip into the water while the cover appears to stay in place. Use safety barriers such as locking the doors leading to the spas and hot tubs to prevent young children from gaining access.
(Views of child playing near a hot tub full of water. The child throws his ball into the hot tub and tries to retrieve it. View of adult locking a hot tub cover into place).
TEXT: SPA DROWNING. (Baby Doll Simulation)
(View a baby doll lying head first under water in a hot tub with a non-rigid cover).
TEXT: SWIMMING POOLS. To prevent a swimming pool tragedy, use layers of protection. This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency. CPSC offers these tips to prevent pool drowning:
- Fences and walls should be at least 4 feet high and installed completely around the pool. Fence gates should open outward from the pool and should be self-closing and self- latching. The latch should be out of a small child's reach.
- If your house forms one side of the barrier to the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.
- A power safety cover -- a motor-powered barrier that can be placed over the water area -- can be used when the pool is not in use.
- Keep rescue equipment by the pool and be sure a phone is poolside with emergency numbers posted.
- For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured and locked, or removed when the pool is not in use.
- Always supervise young children when they are in and around the pool.
- If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
- Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution.
(Views of a backyard pool. A young child opens the back door to her house to go to the pool - an alarm sounds and a power safety cover begins to close on the pool. Various views of pool alarms in pools sounding off. Views of children playing in and around a pool.)
End.