Each year, many young children drown in swimming pools, other bodies of water, and standing water around the home, such as

• Bathtubs
• Buckets and pails, especially 5-gallon buckets and diaper pails
• Ice chests with melted ice
• Toilets
• Hot tubs, spas, and whirlpools
• Irrigation ditches, postholes, and wells
• Fishponds and fountains

Children must be watched closely by an adult at all times when in or near water. Children may drown in an inch or 2 of water. Stay within an arm’s length of your child.

Other safety activities include

• Empty all buckets, pails, and bathtubs completely after each use—do not leave them filled and unattended.
• Keep young children out of the bathroom unless they are closely watched. Teach others in the home to keep the bathroom door closed. Install a hook-and-eye latch or doorknob cover on the outside of the door. Always close the toilet lid, and consider using a toilet lid latch.
• Never leave a child alone in a bathtub or in the care of another child, even for a moment. Avoid using bath seats or rings. Your baby can slip out of them and be trapped underwater. An adult must be within arm’s reach, providing touch supervision at all times.
• Use a rigid, lockable cover on a hot tub, spa, or whirlpool, or fence in all 4 sides as you would for a swimming pool.
• The hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120°F to avoid burns. In many cases, you can adjust your water heater.
• Throw away or tightly cover water or chemical mixtures after use.
• Watch children closely when they are playing near wells, open postholes, or irrigation or drainage ditches. Fill in empty holes or have fences installed to protect your child.
• Learn CPR and know how to get emergency help.

Disclaimer

Patient education handouts from TIPP—The Injury Prevention Program help pediatricians implement injury prevention counseling for parents of children newborn through 12 years of age.

The information in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

© 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved.