A Highly Avoidable Tragedy: Preventing Drowning Inside the Home
by SixWise.com
Yearly, over 3000 people on average drown in U.S. pools, lakes, seashores
and other recreational areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). These recreational areas are what people generally
think about when taking precautions to prevent drowning.
Never leave kids unattended in the tub - accidents can happen in
just seconds!
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However, many people don't consider taking the simple measures to avoid
drowning INSIDE the home, where hundreds of Americans drown yearly from
what are largely preventable accidents. If you are a parent, grandparent
or otherwise care for children, such measures are especially important,
as children are by far most prone to drowning in the home.
1. Bathtub: Last month, in two incidents that were widely publicized
in their respective regions, a 9-month-old Ohio boy drowned in the bathtub
after his father left him alone, and a 12-year-old Chicago girl with cerebral
palsy and a seizure disorder drowned while taking a bath after her mother
stepped away to answer the phone.
Bathtubs represent the biggest threat of in-home drowning, but fortunately
these incidents are also among the easiest to avoid. According to the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about two-thirds of drowning
deaths in the home occur in bathtubs-and some of these happened while
a child was confined to a bath seat or ring.
Whenever a child is in the bathtub, make sure they are being supervised.
It only takes seconds for a child to drown -- just the time it takes to
answer the phone or turn off the TV -- so simply make it a rule never
to leave a child unattended in the bathtub at all.
2. Toilet: Believe it or not, toilets are a major home drowning
hazard, particularly for children under the age of 3. Toddlers are curious
and when going in for a closer look can fall in to a toilet headfirst
and drown.
Toilet lids should always be kept down, but to prevent clever toddlers
(and clever pets) from opening them up we recommend the inexpensive and
simple-to-install toilet
lock that won the "Show Off" award for ingenious, practical
products from the Juvenile Products Manufacturer Association. This
clever toilet lock that works with any type of toilet seat is made of
strong plastic that, in its locked position, keeps the toilet lid securely
closed, preventing little ones from accessing the bowl.
Grown-ups can swing the toilet lock back to an "off" position
and open up the lid easily, without fumbling. Anyone who routinely has
toddlers or young children in their home should consider one of these
toilet locks for any bathroom a child may be able to access.
Gateway to Go ...
Winner of Multiple Safety Awards
The Gateway
to Go is a simple way to keep kids and pets away from dangerous
areas of your home. It requires no tools to install, is ultra-durable
but weighs just 4.5 lbs, and is easy to move from room to room (or
house to house.)
Read
More Now
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3. Buckets: Children can drown in as little as two inches of water,
warns the CPSC. That means that any bucket with liquid in it can be a
threat to children, who are "top heavy" by nature. As with toilets,
if a toddler falls inside one, they're likely to fall in headfirst and
it can be very difficult for them to free themselves once they do. Large
five-gallon buckets that are widely used in homes are particularly dangerous-because
of their tall sides and stability they're unlikely to fall over and give
a child a chance to get out.
Never leave buckets that contain any amount of liquid unattended when
small children (or pets) are present, and please always empty them immediately
after use!
4. Hot Tubs and Spas: Many homeowners enjoy the use of indoor
hot tubs or spas. They present an obvious risk when in use, as children
can easily fall in when an adult's back is turned. And they pose a hidden
threat when they're turned off and covered.
Babies and toddlers can crawl under the cover and slip into the water
without disturbing the cover. So while the cover may appear in place,
a child could be trapped underneath. This is particularly true with the
non-rigid covers.
Your best protective option if you have an indoor hot tub is to put a
child-proof latch on the door that leads to the hot tub so children cannot
even get near it. Alternatively, if a door is not present, the Gateway
to Go portable gate can be used to keep children clear of the hot tub.
Gateway
to Go is ideal for any parent or grandparent who needs to keep children
in or out of certain rooms and areas of the home.
5. Fish tanks: Children will be drawn to the colors and excitement
that aquariums provide, but they can easily fall inside and become trapped.
Fish tanks should be kept far out the reach of young children.
Small Children Around?
Consider the Innovative Toilet Lock
The Juvenile Products Manufacturer Association
'Show Off' Competition Winner, this remarkable, highly acclaimed
toilet lock:
· Automatically returns to a locked position after lid is
closed--the ONLY toilet lock that does this!
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Fits most standard toilets by attaching to existing seat bolts
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Mounts without adhesives, and is simple to install
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Is simple for adults to temporarily disengage for normal toilet
access
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Works with any toilet seat, including thick, padded or covered
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Wipes clean with a damp cloth
- Durable and economical!
Learn
More & Order Now
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6. Coolers: Remember that it only takes two inches of water to
drown a child. That much water could easily be generated by melting ice
or other liquids in a cooler. If children are around, large coolers should
be kept safely stored away in a secure location.
For more home safety tips for kids, pets and adults, please review some
of the articles below.
Recommended Reading
The
Ten Most Common Poisons Among Kids
The
Six Silent Killers in Your Home: How to Detect and Eliminate Them
Internet
Safety for Kids: Seven Signs Your Child May be at Risk
The
Top Household Dangers to Your Pets
Sources
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
Chicago
Tribune
Miami
Herald
U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
National
Center for Injury Prevention and Control