For the study, the authors analyzed bathtub seat-related fatality statistics collected by CPSC from 1983 to 1995. During this period, CPSC recorded 32 drowning deaths connected to the use of bathtub seats. The age of the drowned children involved in this study ranged from 5 to 15 months, with an average age of 8 months. The children were left alone in the tub anywhere from 1 to 35 minutes, and for an average time of 6 minutes. CPSC reminds caregivers that bathtub seats are safe if used properly, which means providing constant adult supervision when young children are in the tub.
Children can drown quickly and silently in a small amount of water.
Often there is no screaming or splashing. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.