The Lifesaving Society of Manitoba's Drowning Report of 2019 shows an increase in bathtub drownings for the elderly and small children.

Dr. Christopher Love, Water Smart Coordinator for the Society, says, "For about the past four to five [years], bathtub drowning deaths have basically been insignificant. They've been included in what we consider our 'Other' category. For the first time, bathtubs have become a significant figure for a few years."

The Report shows that bathtub drownings have become their own category and make up 5 per cent of drowning incidents in Manitoba.

Love says there are two types of people who are involved in these incidents: "Either very young children in the 0-4 age range or seniors. ... For the small children, it's that they need constant supervision. If they're in the bathtub there needs to be an adult present, supervising them the entire time that they're in the tub or when there is water in the tub."

Love says infants and toddlers are especially prone to drowning accidents for a couple of reasons.

First, Love says, "They're intensely serious about the water, and if they're left unattended because an adult goes to the phone or goes to the front door, it doesn't take very long for a child to get in trouble.

"All you need is your mouth and your nose covered for a drowning event to occur. Which means, for most of us - including adults - about an inch of water. ... For a small child, it's even slightly less than that and they can drown in as little as ten seconds."

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Secondly, Love says an infant's body composition does not allow for independence in the water - even in the bathtub: "Just simply because of their body types ... they don't have the same strength as an older child or an adult does. So if they end up in the water, it is very easy for them to end up under the water, unable to breathe, and end up in a drowning situation. ... They don't have the arm strength to push themselves up above the water's surface.

"There have been toilet drownings where a child opens up the lid of the toilet, there is enough water in the bottom, they're fascinated, they try to lean down to touch it - and, again, because of the fact that their head tend to be heavier than their body until they grow a bit larger - they can topple in and end up face down and not be able to extricate themselves."

Love adds that while mini baths or bassinet bathtubs may seem like a safer option for infants, they will not be an absolute end to drowning. "It doesn't matter on the size. Certainly, for peace of mind, a small bassinet bathtub may work better because it is much easier to drain relatively quickly - simply by overturning it."

Love, on behalf of the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba, stresses that proper supervision and staying close to your child when they are in the water is the best form of protection: "The number one thing we see year, after year, after year, when a drowning occurs for a child it - very often - involves absent or distracted supervision form an adult. ... You need to be there no matter what."