PHA Supports Water Safety Campaign

Bath time is a fun and essential part of a child's routine. However, it's crucial to remember that water safety is paramount. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK's 'Splash Safety at Your Pad' campaign to raise awareness of bathtime safety and the dangers of baby bath seats.

The campaign aims to educate parents and guardians on how to keep their children safe in the bath, highlighting the potential risks associated with baby bath seats.

Deirdre Ward, Nurse Consultant at the PHA, said: "We know from data in England that the number of children sadly drowning in the bath has increased. Many of these tragic deaths were of children five and under, and a number included the use of a bath seat.

"No child should drown, and we believe that it is vitally important to understand as much as possible about the circumstances and factors contributing to child drowning deaths in order to raise awareness, and ultimately reduce the number of young lives lost. Each baby's death is a tragedy, so we want to educate and empower parents and guardians to reduce the risk of death by drowning."

According to a survey from RLSS UK, there is a worrying misconception among parents that a baby bath seat is a safety device. The survey showed that almost three quarters of parents (72%) believe a baby bath seat is designed to keep a baby safe. This is not the case.

Deirdre continued: "Baby bath seats can give you a false sense of security, and we do not recommend using them. However, if you choose to use one, remember that it's not a safety device. You will still need to stay with your baby at all times, keeping them within arm's reach, as babies can drown quickly and in very shallow water.

"The findings also showed that more than half of the parents surveyed (55%) believe that children who are struggling in water usually thrash about and make a lot of noise, but drowning happens quickly and quietly in as little as 2cm of water – enough to cover a child's mouth and nose. Stay with your baby at all times, whether using a bath seat or not – never leave them even for a moment, even if there is an older brother or sister in the bath with them."

Matt Croxall, Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: "We find it heartbreaking to learn that child drownings in the bath are continuing to take place – and it is concerning to learn that in many of these instances there was a bath seat involved. Seeking to shed light on the major misconception that bath seats can be used as a safety device, we want to educate more families to be aware of the risks, so they are able to stay safe. "Our 'Splash Safety at your Pad' campaign aims to share important water safety messages with families across the UK and Ireland in a fun and engaging way. We hope this campaign has a positive impact on families with young ones and makes all the difference."

Top Tips for Enjoying Water Safely at Bath Time

Toadily Awesome Preparation

Before you start running the bath, get towels, toiletries, toys, nappies and clean clothes or pyjamas ready to go. 59% of parents of under 5s left their child unattended in the bath, even just for a moment. This was often because they'd forgotten something, such as a towel – you should never leave your child in the bath. If you need to leave the bathroom, be sure to take your child with you.

Stay Together

Always keep your child within arm's reach when they're in or near water. Remember, babies can be slippery when wet and soapy, meaning they can easily slip under the water. A drowning child can't speak or control their arms, so constant supervision from an adult is vital. Worryingly, 2 in 5 parents (41%) believe it's safe to leave a baby in the bath with an older sibling, as long as it's not for too long. Never leave your child in the bath under the supervision of child siblings as they're too young to understand the dangers.

Don't Overfill the Bath

Fill the bath with just enough water to cover your child's legs. A shallow depth reduces the risk of drowning while still allowing for plenty of splashy fun.

Avoid Distractions

7 in 10 parents of young children admit to checking or using their mobile phone whilst their child is in the bath. The best way to prevent accidents is to give your froglets your undivided attention, so leave your phone outside the bathroom to avoid distraction - it can't be that ribbiting! 

Check

Toys can easily block the plughole, leaving water unexpectedly in the tub - so make sure you check that all the water has drained after use. Of the 1,003 parents surveyed, just over half (51%) told us that they don't always check this.

Tidy your Pad

Keep the plug and toys out of reach when not in use and shut the bathroom door to limit children's access without a grown-up.

"Whilst most parents believe bath time is fun, almost half of parents described it as chaotic, stressful, rushed or challenging. Being a parent is a lot of responsibility – by familiarising yourself with this handy checklist, not only will you help to reduce the risk of drowning and keep your littles one safe but you will also have a much more relaxing bath time experience with your child," concluded Deirdre.

For more information see www.rlss.org.uk/splash-safety