Careful! Bathtub Trips, Slips, and Falls Can Injure Children

A new study reported in the journal Pediatrics shows that bathtubs can be a dangerous place for children. Bath safety often focuses on avoiding burns and drowning, but it is actually slips, trips, and falls that account for most bathing-related injuries in children.

The study is the first to be published on bathtub- and shower-related injuries in children using data that is representative of the U.S. population. Researchers analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 to 2007. The purpose of the surveillance system is to provide data on consumer product-related injuries that occur in the U.S.

More than 100 Children Injured Daily

During the study period, an estimated 791,200 children ages 18 and younger were treated in emergency departments for bathtub- or shower-related injuries. This translates to 43,600 cases per year, or about 120 cases per day.

The actual number of kids injured is probably higher than these estimates, however. This is because the data represent injuries treated in emergency rooms only. Children treated in other medical settings, such as a doctor's office, or who did not seek medical attention at all, are not included in these estimates.

Kids ages 4 and younger accounted for more than half of the injuries. But 2-year-olds were hurt most often. Injuries were more likely to occur in the bathtub than in the shower.

Falls, slips, and trips were the most common reason for injuries. They accounted for 81 percent of the emergency department visits. Water burns and submersion accounted for 4 percent and 1.6 percent of injuries, respectively. But nearly all children were well enough to be released from the hospital the same day.

Keeping Baths Safe

The study authors call for bathtubs to be made with non-slip surfaces. But until then, these findings suggest that parents and caregivers need to be even more vigilant when children are in the bathtub to help avoid slips, trips, and falls, especially among young children. Putting non-slip appliqués on the bathtub might also help.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adults supervise young children at all times when they are in the bathtub. Never leave children alone or with an older child in the bathroom or tub because they can drown in very little water. If you have to answer the phone or doorbell, take your child with you.

Here are some more tips to keep bath-time a safe time for your child:

• Always check the water temperature before putting your child in the tub. Young children have tender skin and are easily burned if the water is too hot.
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less to avoid burns.
• Keep electrical items such as hair dryers unplugged and away from the water when not in use. They can cause an electric shock if they fall into the sink or bathtub while plugged in.

Always consult your physician for more information.