728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
Get Pregnancy Information
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Basic Care › Trouble in the Tub

Trouble in the Tub

Prevent Childhood Drownings By Eliminating Common Dangers

Pages:  1  2  3  

The bathtub may be a playground of soapy bubbles and rubber ducks, but it also sets the scene for about 100 accidental deaths annually among children younger than 5.

Supervision Is Key
Because most of these deaths occur when a child is left alone, such tragedies are preventable, says Dr. Joan Shook, chief of emergency medicine at Texas Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

"Young children should be carefully supervised at all times while bathing," Dr. Shook says. "Drowning can – and does – occur in as little as 2 inches of water."

Even adults with the best intentions can succumb to everyday distractions. "Checking to see who's ringing the door bell, answering the phone or getting a towel out of the dryer may seem harmless, but it takes only moments for a child to drown," Dr. Shook says. "Is any interruption really worth the risk?"

Relying on an older brother or sister for supervision can be equally dangerous. "It's particularly easy for kids of all ages to get distracted," Dr. Shook says. "Although a child may be in the same tub, he or she might not recognize signs of distress in time. There's simply no substitute for the watchful eyes and quick reflexes of a responsible adult."

Bath Seats and Rings
Because parents and caregivers falsely believe extra support means extra safety, bath seats and rings cause many bathtub drownings. "If the suction cups fail, the ring can dislodge," Dr. Shook says. "The seat can topple over. The baby's body also can slip through the seat's leg holes and the head can become trapped. Unfortunately, many of the seats and rings in use today have been borrowed or purchased second-hand, so they may not be in the best condition."


Pages:  1  2  3  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.