Warning: Many parents of small children underestimate the risks of small bodies of water

Last summer, an alarming increase in drowning accidents in swimming pools and bathing lakes led to media reports and public awareness. In order to prevent further drowning accidents, attention should be drawn to the danger posed by small bodies of water, which is still often underestimated.

Toddlers from crawling age are particularly affected by the risks. As toddlers are quick, even brief moments of inattention are enough to lose sight of a small child. Toddlers often sink silently in the water, so a lot of time can pass before anyone notices. This is all the more the case if carers are distracted by a mobile phone or chatting, for example.

A few centimetres of water are enough to drown

Dr med. Patricia Dill is head of neuropaediatrics at UKBB and cares for children who have been victims of drowning accidents, both acutely in the intensive care unit and in the long term. She explains: "Young children are magically attracted to water. But they don't realise that they can't breathe underwater and have to hold their breath. Just a few centimetres of water can be fatal for them, especially as drowning is usually silent. Small children often lack the strength or skill to stand up on their own if their face goes under water. Their breathing stops quickly and their lungs can fill with water within a few seconds."

Children who survive a brain injury usually suffer from lifelong impairments for which there are no medical solutions. Once this damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed.

Feelings of guilt and self-reproach accompany parents of an accidental drowning throughout their lives, precisely because most of these drowning accidents could have been avoided with more attention.

Preventing tragedies

To prevent parents and guardians from experiencing tragedies with small bodies of water, the UKBB has compiled the following tips in collaboration with the organisations mentioned:

• Always keep an eye on children and keep small children within reach when they are playing near unsecured small bodies of water.
• Empty water sources such as bathtubs, paddling pools or buckets immediately when they are not in use.
• Even if it is not your child: Take responsibility if they are playing unsupervised near the water. Be the supervisor until the parents have been located. Talk to the parents about the risks of such situations so that they can prevent them themselves in future.
• Make your children aware of the dangers of water and encourage them never to go into the water without permission.
• Do you have a garden with a fountain, pond or other small body of water? Prevent children from accessing them with fences or safety locks. You can find helpful tips on securing small bodies of water on the BFU website.

Important note

Childcare facilities, neighbourhood meeting points, paediatricians' surgeries and other institutions with points of contact with parents of young children can support the awareness-raising campaign. On POSTER-D-F-underestimation_dangersousestime a poster can be downloaded and printed out.