Young children are irresistibly drawn to water, and tragically, about 350 children under age five drown in swimming pools each year.

But even if you don’t have a pool, your young children may not be safe from drowning. At next month’s World Congress on Drowning, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will present data showing that about one-third as many children (an average of about 115 annually) drown from other hazards around the home as do in pools.

CPSC has received reports of 459 young children who drowned in bathtubs, buckets, toilets, spas, hot tubs and other containers of water in a four-year period between 1996 and 1999.

&uot;While many of us are aware of the dangers a backyard pool poses to young children, not everyone knows about other drowning hazards around the home,&uot; said CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore.

&uot;CPSC is alerting parents and caregivers to drowning hazards that might not be so obvious, to help prevent these devastating losses.&uot;

Bathtubs

Children drowning in bathtubs account for about two-thirds of the 459 reported drowning deaths in the home. The majority of these bathtub deaths occur when the caregiver is not present. In the time it takes to step out of the room to get a towel or answer the phone, a young child can drown.

In at least 29 of the 292 bathtub drowning deaths reported to CPSC between 1996 and 1999, the victims were using bath seats.

Buckets

Many parents and caregivers may not realize the danger buckets pose.

From 1996 through 1999, CPSC received reports of 58 children under age five who drowned in five-gallon buckets. Even a small amount of liquid can be deadly.

Of all buckets, the five-gallon size presents the greatest hazard to young children because of its tall, straight sides. That, combined with the stability of these buckets, makes it nearly impossible for top-heavy infants and toddlers to free themselves when they fall into the bucket headfirst.

Toilets

Toilets can be overlooked as a drowning hazard in the home. The typical scenario involves a child under three-years-old falling headfirst into the toilet. CPSC has received reports of 16 children under age five who drowned in toilets between 1996 and 1999.

Spas and hot tubs

Spas and hot tubs, typically located near or sometimes inside the home, pose another hazard to young children. CPSC is aware of 55 children under age five who drowned in spas and hot tubs between 1996 and 1999.

Other products

Though not as frequently involved in deaths, other products around the home containing water can be drowning hazards. The most common of these are buckets with a capacity different than the five-gallon size. Additional drowning deaths have also involved landscape ponds, sinks, and fish tanks, among other products.

Tips

CPSC offers these tips to help prevent young children from drowning:

Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub for even a second. Always keep the baby in arm’s reach. Don’t leave a baby in the care of another young child. Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, to get a towel or for any other reason.

A baby bath seat is not a substitute for supervision. A bath seat is a bathing aid, not a safety device.

Never use a baby bath seat in a non-skid, slip-resistant bathtub because the suction cups will not adhere to the bathtub surface or can detach unexpectedly.

Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended.

Store buckets where young children cannot reach them.

Buckets, accessible to children, that are left outside to collect rainwater are a hazard.

Always secure safety covers and barriers to prevent children from gaining access to spas or hot tubs when not in use.

Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the water and consider using a toilet clip to stop young children from opening the lids.

Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) &045; it can be a lifesaver when seconds count.

Swimming Pools

Consumers with residential pools need to be aware of all the safety tips regarding in-home hazards, and also be aware of how to protect young children from the dangers a pool poses.

The key to preventing a swimming pool tragedy is to have layers of protection. This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency. CPSC offers these tips to prevent pool drowning:

Fences and walls should be at least 4 feet high and installed completely around the pool. Fence gates should open outward from the pool and should be self-closing and self-latching.

If your house forms one side of the barrier to the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.

A power safety cover &045; a motor-powered barrier that can be placed over the water area &045; can be used when the pool is not in use.

Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution