Bathtub Safety

How much time does it take to drown in a bathtub?

• Cross a room for a towel (30 seconds), a child in a bathtub can be submerged

• Answer the phone (2 minutes), a child can lose consciousness

• Upload a picture to social media (2 - 5 minutes), a child submerged in a tub or pool can sustain permanent brain damage

In the last two years, Children’s Health has treated 19 children who were submerged in a bathtub where 4 of those ended in a fatality.

Did you know it only takes an inch (1 inch) of water to cover a child’s mouth and nose?

• Toddlers and infants are top heavy, and if they fall forward in the tub one inch of water is enough to drown.

• More than 50 percent of infant drownings occurs in the bathtub.

Safety Tips

• Prepare with everything you will need before bathing your child.

• Always stay within arm’s reach.

• Never leave a child unattended in or around the water.

• Learn CPR.