Health: Water Safety

Montgomery County, PA

P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Courthouse Hours: 8:30a.m. to 4:15p.m.
Phone: 610-278-3000
Website: www.montcopa.org

Water Safety Tips: Preventing Drowning
FOR AROUND THE HOUSE:
 
“About 150 children younger than 5 drown in bathtubs, buckets, toilets and other containers in and around the home each year.”
– U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
 
Tips for Bath Time Safety
  • Always have everything you will need for the bath ready and at arms reach before putting the child in the bath.
  • If for any reason you must leave the room for even a second, take the child with you. Babies can drown in as little as1-inch of water.
  • Do not leave a child unattended while filling the bathtub and empty the tub immediately after the bath.
  • Put a latch on the bathroom door to keep small children out.
Don’t Forget!!!!
  • Other potential drowning hazards include sinks, coolers, fish tanks, landscape ponds and toilets (toilet seat locks can be purchased).
  • Empty containers immediately when finished using - do not leave empty containers outside where water may accumulate and attract small children. Toddlers run the risk of falling head first in 4 and 5 gallon buckets and drowning.
pool

AT THE POOL:
 
The National Safety Council reports that 600 children and adults drown annually in swimming pools, 330 in home pools. The U.S. Consumer Project Safety Commission (CPSC) states that child drownings are the 2nd leading cause of accidental deaths around the home to children under 5 years of age. In one survey conducted by CPSC that looked at child drownings and near drownings it was discovered that in 3 of every 4 accidents the child was seen 5 minutes or less prior to being “missed” and subsequently found in the pool.
  • Fences should be at least 4-feet high. The fence should be made of a material that a child is unable to climb.
  • Avoid having any objects or structures (i.e. bushes or lawn furniture) close to a fence that a child could use to assist in getting over the fence.
  • All doors in the home leading to the pool should be self-closing and have a self-latching device.
Not all injuries and deaths are caused by children who are unable to swim. Many serious injures are sustained by children and adults who fall on slippery decks, fall from diving boards and ladders, and by sustaining head and neck injuries when going headfirst down water slides and hitting the bottom of the pool.
Information obtained from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Additional information can be found at www.cpsc.gov
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