According to a new study, your toddler is more likely to be injured in the bathtub than on the playground, the kitchen or the garage. On average, more than 43,000 kids are treated in hospital emergency rooms annually for injuries sustained in the tub or shower. What’s more, the study reveals that toddlers account for more than half that number.
Researchers say about 60 percent of the injuries were lacerations (cuts and tears to the skin) while another 20 percent were sprains and other soft-tissue injuries. The part of a toddler’s body that was most commonly affected was the head, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the bath injuries, followed by the head and neck, which accounted for 15 percent of the injuries.
The reason, according to experts, is that when toddlers fall, they tend to topple forward, and subsequently strike their head and their face, which causes injures such cuts and bruises. Overall, wounds from falls make up about 80 percent of bath-related injuries, topping those caused by scalding water or submersion in the tub, according to the study.
So how can parents of toddlers reduce the risk of their children being injured in the tub? Experts say it’s simple: Be alert. Researchers warn that tub injuries typically happen very quickly, so it’s vital that parents remain close to their toddlers when they are playing in the tub.
Other ways to protect your toddler from bathtub and shower injuries include:
*Using a slip-resistant mat inside and outside the bath and shower.
*Adding a support bars for kids to hold onto when getting into and out of the tub and shower.
*To reduce the risk of scalding, set your home’s water heater to a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
*Place a soft, insulated cover over the bathtub faucet.
*Keep electrical devices (including hair dryers, curling irons, and electric razors) far away from the tub. Also, make sure that any outlets near the tub are covered to protect them from water.
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