Keeping young children safe from drowning at home: simple steps that help

Drowning is often linked to beaches and pools, yet a toddler can get into danger in very little water at home: a bucket left in the courtyard on laundry day, a bathtub, a basin, or an uncovered well in a rural house. Young children cannot judge risk and have not learned to swim.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children under five account for almost a quarter of all drowning deaths worldwide. The good news is that simple measures at home help reduce this risk considerably.

Practical steps to take today

First: never leave a young child alone near water, not even for a minute, during bath time, laundry or cleaning. Supervision should be active: an attentive adult within arm’s reach, not distracted by a phone.

Second: empty buckets, basins and tubs straight after use. Anything that must stay filled should be kept where the child cannot reach it.

Third: if your home or farm has a well or water tank, cover it with a sturdy lid that a child cannot move.

Fourth: put barriers at the doors to the bathroom, courtyard or terrace, use a playpen when you are busy, and fence off any swimming pool.

Fifth: when you cannot watch the child yourself, leave them with a trusted adult whose job is to supervise, or in a supervised day-care setting.

Sixth: once your child reaches school age, enrol them in lessons on basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue, in a safe place with trained instructors.

When to talk to a health professional

To learn first aid and safe rescue and resuscitation techniques, ask a doctor or your nearest health centre about training.

Take a few minutes today to walk through your home and spot every source of open water. It is one of the simplest ways to protect a child.