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Yet some of the most serious injuries occur in bathtubs andshowers — and they occur at asurprising rate. Each year, more than43,000 children are sent to the emergency department for these bath- and shower-related injuries. Even with parents watch-ing their kids, the injuries still happen.
“Keeping a close watch on your kids duringbathtime isn’t always enough to preventinjuries. With one quick move, a child canslip, fall and end up with a serious bump,bruise or broken bone. Placing a slip-resis-tant mat or non-slip appliques on the tubfloor can help counter the slick surfaces,”says Dr. Christine Darr, pediatric emer-gency specialist.
Types of Bathtub andShower Injuries
! Drowning Children can drown in
very small amounts of water.
! Burns & scalds Water straight out
of the faucet can be hot enough to cause
major burns.
! Slips, trips and falls In a split
second, one little mishap can cause deep
cuts, bumps and bruises, broken bones
and serious head injuries.
Young Children are atthe Biggest Risk
! More than half of all bathtub- and
shower-related injuries occur to children
younger than five years old.
! Two-year-olds have the largest number
of injuries.
! Young children have little strength and
when they fall, they tend to top-
ple head first. This causes
young children to hurt their
heads and faces more than
older children.
While bath time can be a fun timefor you and your little one, it canalso pose a big hazard. With slipsand falls injuring thousands ofkids each year, here are a few tipsto help keep kids safe and healthy.
Source: Center for Injury Research and Policy
(The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital)
The Emergency Department at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children atPresbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Centerhas pediatricians available 24/7 and is located on 21st Street, one block west of High Street in Downtown Denver.
Bath and Shower Safety Tips! Never allow a young child to take a bath
or shower without adult supervision.
! Baby seats do not prevent drowning.
In fact, injury experts recommend
NOT using baby seats.
! Check the water temperature before
placing your child in the bathtub or
shower. Hot water scalds are the most
common and most severe types of
childhood burn.
! Set the water heater thermostat to no
higher than 120° F. Consider installing
anti-scald devices on faucets to stop the
flow of water if it gets too hot. Anti-
scald devices are also available with
options to keep the water temperature
at a safe level.
! Always run the cold-water tap first
when filling a bath, and then mix in the
warmer water to reduce the risk of
scalds or burns.
! Never put your child in the bathtub
while the water is still running; the
water temperature could quickly
change, or the water level might
become too high.
! Install
handholds
inside of the bath-
tub or shower.
! If your shower
has a glass door,
make sure it is
shatterproof.
! Make sure that the corners on all bath
and shower fixtures are cushioned or
rounded to avoid sharp, dangerous edges.
! Use slip-resistant mats inside and out-
side of the bathtub and shower.
And finally, never leaveyour child alone in thebathtub! Don’t get distracted.
If the phone rings, let it ring! “Never take your
eye off of your child for even a second,” says
pediatrician Scott Merenstein, MD of Lowry
Pediatrics. “If you have to leave the bathroom,
take your child with you. And remember that
children should always be sitting or lying in the
tub, never standing.”
For more information on health and safety for kids, please visit: www.RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com
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