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Drowning Prevention

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years of age. Most infant drownings happen in the bathtub. Most toddler drownings occur in home swimming pools. Cleaning buckets, toilets, and bathtubs are other common sites of drownings. Most child drownings occur when the child was seen and safe within the past 5 minutes.

How can drowning be prevented?

Follow these guidelines to help prevent drowning accidents:

Never leave a baby alone near water or in the bathtub even for a moment. Drowning can happen in seconds. If you are bathing a baby and the telephone or doorbell rings, wrap the baby in a towel and carry the baby with you.
Constantly watch small children when they are near water such as a swimming pool, lake, or river. Never allow kids of any age to swim alone. Make sure that lifeguards or supervisors know CPR.
Teach children to swim starting at the age of 4. Children less than 3 years should not be given swimming lessons. They can be taught water safety.
Be aware of small bodies of water that might attract your child's attention, such as fishponds, construction sites, ditches, fountains, rain barrels, watering cans, wading pools, or buckets. Keep toilet lids closed, or lock bathroom doors. Do not leave children alone near possibly dangerous sources of water.
Enforce pool safety rules such as no running near the pool and no pushing others underwater. Keep a safety ring and rope at the poolside. There should be a poolside telephone with emergency phone numbers. An alarm bell is helpful.
Do not allow children who cannot swim to use inflatable toys or mattresses to keep afloat. The toy may suddenly deflate or a child may slip off into water that is too deep.
Be sure home swimming pools are completely surrounded by a secure fence at least 4-feet tall with a self-closing, self-locking gate. Gate latches should be out of the reach of children. If there is not a fence around the pool and a house door opens directly to the pool area, the house door should have an audible alarm.
Only use a power pool safety cover approved by the American Society of Testing and Materials. Other pool covers can fill with water and children can be trapped underneath.
Do not store toys in or near pools. A child trying to get the toy may drown.
Above ground pools should have the ladder or steps secured and locked.
Other water safety guidelines
Do not allow young children to use spas and hot tubs. Young children can easily drown or become overheated in them.
Make sure children always wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket when swimming in deep water or riding in a boat.
Even older children should always swim with a buddy.
Adults should not drink alcohol while swimming or boating.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File PRV4656F.HTM Release 9.0/2006