Drowning now top preventable child death

Until last year, unsafe sleep was the leading preventable cause of death for children under age 6 in the Tampa Bay area. But that changed last year when 18 children accidentally drowned – four more deaths than those caused by unsafe sleep.

Prevent accidental drownings by watching children at all times. Consider:

– Children can drown in as little as 20 seconds.

– Babies can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. A bucket, a pet water bowl and a toilet all pose threats.

– Barriers, like a pool fence with a lock and self-closing gate, are essential for backyard pools.

– Kelley Parris, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County