Baby bath seats cause drownings

Tuesday February 4th, 2015

Bath seats are increasingly popular for babies - but they have been linked to a series of drownings, public health experts warned yesterday.

As many as a third of drownings of children under two now involve these devices, according to a new analysis.

The problem has been highlighted by Child Death Overview Panels in London, according to Public Health England.

Experts say parents sometimes think they can turn their back on the child in a bath seat - but the seat can tip over.

Further evidence has come from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which has compiled figures on the role of bath seats.

About 13 children a year in the UK die from drowning under the age of five - and eight times as many need hospital treatment after incidents involving water.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, from Public Health England London, said: “If unsupervised, young children can tip over in a bath seat and become trapped or climb out of it, with potentially fatal consequences.

"These seats are used by parents when bathing babies and young children but they can often be mistaken as safety measures, instead of bathing aids requiring constant adult supervision.

“Babies and young children should never be left unattended in a bath, not even for a minute. Even if a child is quickly rescued from drowning, they may already have stopped breathing.

"A significant proportion of children who have near misses may suffer brain damage that can require lifelong financial and healthcare support.”

Tags: A&E | Child Health | UK News

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