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When babies start to sit by themselves for long periods of time at about 6 to 8 months of age, parents and caretakers often assume that they can sit in the bathtub alone too, for a few moments at least. Experience and statistics on submersion injuries and drowning in tubs prove that this assumption is quite fallacious. Babies have been admitted to emergencies time and again because they were drowned in less than 2 inches of water in bathtubs in just a few moments, sometimes with fatal results. Babies can drown in buckets, ponds, pools, toilets and even bathtubs with supporting ring devices. Here are some tips to prevent drowning:
- After you use the bathroom, always bolt the door, so that toddlers do not enter or slip into it unsupervised by a caretaker.
- All parents, caretakers and pool owners should know how to give CPR to infants, toddlers and young kids so that they can be given immediate first-aid.
- All pool owners should have government-approved quality rescue equipment at hand.
- Always keep a telephone handy near pool or at home, so that medical assistance can be called for immediately.
- Hot tubs and residential swimming pools should always be surrounded by a four-feet high fence so that kids cannot enter them, without being allowed to do so.
- Kids and babies should always be accompanied to the bathroom with a caretaker.
- When children start learning swimming, they may become more and more fascinated with water and think of it as safe play. Then, they need greater supervision so that they do not take undue risks.
- While infants and toddlers are playing with water or near any water body, an adult should always be within arm's reach, so that they can be saved from any accident.
- Young children should never be left alone near any body of water, even for an instant. These include, pools, ponds, buckets, bathtubs and toilet.