Drowning is the leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children
of the age of 1 to 4. It can happen in pools, showers, and bathtubs, large buckets,
a dangerous place that many parents are not aware of. The U. S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that 50 toddlers (mostly between 4 and 18 months
old) annually drown in buckets containing cleaning or mopping liquid. In an
attempt to warn parents, guardians, and caretakers of the risks of baby drowning
in large buckets, the California government has recently passed a law stating that
labels depicting a baby falling into a bucket must be placed on both sides of any
4 to 6-gallon container.
Ninety percent of the reported bucket drowning incidents of young children from
1984 to 1992 involved 5-gallon buckets, which are often used for cleaning, paint,
or plaster. Of all buckets, it is the 5-gallon size that is the most dangerous because
of its height and weight. The 14 inch high bucket is about half the height
of a toddler, thus making it relatively easy for a child to fall into. And,
if a baby falls in it head first, it is virtually impossible for them to get out
because of the weight and tall sides of the bucket, even in a very minimal amount
of liquid.
Children are naturally curious of their surroundings, especially in the stages following
learning to walk, and if parents are not supervising, they can get into a great
deal of trouble. Drowning can happen in the time it takes to answer a telephone,
answer the door, or even walk to the closet to grab a towel. So, parents or caretakers
who are using a 5-gallon bucket that contains even the smallest amount of liquid
must be warned not to leave a toddler alone even for a moment.
Although bucket drowning accidents are very common among young children, many adults
are not aware of the dangers of large containers. The “Baby in Bucket”
label was designed to warn parents and caretakers of this hazard. The label also
complies with California and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
standards.
Baby in the bucket labels should be applied to both sides of a 4 to 6 gallon container.
