According to the CPSC, more than 430 children under age 5 drowned between 2005 and 2009 – not in a pool, but in their own home. Accidental drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4.
Tubs, toilets, and even buckets of water are all potential dangers. That's why it's important to practice water safety at home.
Most in-home drowning deaths involve babies in bathtubs. Never leave your baby unattended in the tub – even if he's in a ring or bath seat. Supervise your child whenever he's in the bathroom, and install a safety latch on your toilet lid to prevent him from accidentally falling in.
For more helpful hints, see childproofing your bathroom.
Infants and toddlers can drown in as little as a few inches of water, according to the CPSC. This seemingly unlikely scenario happens because young children are top-heavy. If they lose their balance (as they often do) while peering into a toilet or bucket, they can fall in headfirst and get stuck.
Never leave a bucket of water or other liquid unattended. If you're using a bucket of water for mopping or cleaning, pour out the water as soon as you're finished.
Finally, take great care around pools and hot tubs. Wading pools are a major risk for drowning: More than 200 children in the United States have drowned in kiddie pools in the past decade. If you have a wading pool, drain it and store it upright after each use.
If you have a permanent pool, enclose it with a fence that's at least 4 feet high, and lock the gate leading to the pool after each use. Always secure and lock the cover on your spa or hot tub.
Nearly 2,500 children in the United States were injured or killed in residential fires in 2007, and more than 1,000 of those children were under the age of 4, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Experts say that a working smoke alarm can cut in half the chances of dying in a fire. Install smoke alarms in every room of the house. Check them monthly to be sure they're working, and change the batteries at least every year.
Consider installing smoke alarms that use long-life (ten-year) batteries.
Consider keeping a fire extinguisher in your home, and have it serviced or checked according to the manufacturer's instructions. Check FEMA for advice on when and how to use a fire extinguisher.
Start talking to your child about the dangers of fire. Make an evacuation plan and practice your fire escape route regularly.
Do you hate the feel of flame-retardant sleepwear? Softer, non-flame-retardant garments can be okay under certain conditions. See Childproofing Your Nursery for details.
Prepare for an emergency
Program emergency numbers into your home phones and cell phone. Keep a list of these numbers close to each phone in your home and give the list to all caregivers.
Have on hand the local poison control number, or the number for the national poison control center: (800) 222-1222 in the United States. That number will immediately put you in contact with the closest center.
Stock up on first-aid supplies. Make sure babysitters and other caregivers know where to find these supplies in your home and how to respond in an emergency.