Publication 210 122011

To learn more about Baby Safety, visit the following 

safety sources online:

 www.cpsc.gov

 www.saferproducts.gov

Many baby products have newer 

and better safety standards.

If you borrow or use older nursery 

products or toys, make sure they 

have not been recalled for safety 

hazards and that they meet current 

safety requirements. Call the 

U.S. Consumer Product Safety 

Commission’s toll-free hotline at 

1-800-638-2772 or visit their web 

site (see above).

Message for Parents and Caregivers 

While you may be aware of the dangers a backyard 

pool poses to young children, not everyone knows 

about other drowning hazards around the home. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 

offers the information in this brochure to help 

prevent a child from drowning. 

General Water Safety Tips

• Maintain constant supervision. 

Watch children around any water environment 

(pool, stream, lake, tub, hot tub, toilet, bucket 

of water), no matter what skills your child has 

acquired and no matter how shallow the water.

• Don’t rely on substitutes.

The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys 

cannot replace parental/caregiver supervision.

Such devices can suddenly shift position,

lose air or slip out from underneath a child,

creating a drowning hazard.

• Parents/caregivers should take an infant and 

child CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) course. 

 Knowing these skills is important around the 

water and will expand your capabilities to provide 

care for your child... it’s a simple step that can 

save a life.

Young children are irresistibly drawn to water. 

These general water safety tips from the 

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 

can help you keep your child safe in and 

around your home, pools and spas.

Bathtub Soft Spout Covers

Bath Thermometer

Toilet Seat Locks

Non-skid Mats

Outlet Plugs and Covers

Cabinet Locks/Drawer Latches

Safety Gates

First Aid Kit

Door Knob/Handle Locks

Water Safety Tips

Visit cpsc.gov to sign up for e-mail alerts about all 

product recalls announced by CPSC or download 

the recalls.gov app to access recall notices on your 

smartphone.

Log on to Toysrus.com/Safety to sign up to receive 

e-mail alerts when a product sold by Toys“R”Us or 

Babies“R”Us has been recalled.

Recall Notification

SAFETY CHECKLIST WATER SAFETY
Safety Around the House

Never leave a container such as a bucket with even 

a small amount of liquid unattended. When finished 

using a container, empty it immediately. Do not leave 

empty containers outside in the yard or around the 

house where they may accumulate water and attract 

young children.

Other items that contain liquids that may be hazardous 

are sinks, coolers, fish tanks, and landscape ponds.

Bath Safety

•	Do not leave a baby unattended for even a second. 

If you need to leave the bathroom, take the baby 

with you. Do not rely on older children to watch the 

baby for you.

•	Before you begin bathing your child, have all supplies

within arm’s reach and in front of you.

•	Baby bathtubs are not substitutes for supervision.

They are only bathing aids, not safety devices. 

Always stay within arm’s reach when the child 

is in the bathtub.

•	Never leave a child unattended while filling the

bathtub and always empty bath water immediately 

after use. Babies can drown in as little as one inch 

of water.

•	Test water temperature with your elbow or a

thermometer. Temperature should be between 

90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

•	Consider placing a latch on the bathroom door

to keep children out of the bathroom 

when unsupervised.

•	Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the

water, and consider using a toilet seat lock to stop 

children from opening the lid.

•	Always lock or remove ladders from aboveground 	 	

pools after use. Remove all toys from pools when 

not in use to avoid children being tempted to 

retrieve them.

•	Hot tubs pose a drowning risk to children and

overheating risks to very young children.

•	Always secure safety covers and barriers to prevent

children from gaining access to spas or hot tubs when 

not in use.

•	If a child is missing, always look in the pool or spa first.

Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

•	Prevent entrapments. Suction from a pool or spa’s

drain can be powerful enough to trap an adult. 

Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or 

missing drain covers. Ask your pool service operator 

if the pool’s drains are compliant with the 

Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

•	Enroll children in a water safety course or

learn-to-swim program as young as you feel is 

appropriate. No one is “drownproof,” but water 

skills and behaviors can be learned.

•	Never leave a child unobserved in a pool.

Adult supervision is essential and all non-swimmers 

should be kept within reach. A parent’s/caregiver’s 

eyes must be on the child at all times.

•	Keep a telephone handy by the pool so you can call

9-1-1 in an emergency.

•	Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

•	Enclose all pools completely with a barrier.

Fences should be at least four feet high and have 

self-closing,self-latching gates. Layers of protection 

are essential. Install and use door and pool alarms 

and pool safety covers.

The items below are samples of safety products 

to consider for your home.

• Toilet seat lock

• Bath thermometer

• Cabinet locks

• Safety gates

• Door latch

For Water Safety at Home

Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Safety Bath Safety