As much of the country ushers in sweltering temperatures, thoughts turn to cooling off and spending time in the swimming pool, prompting extra attention to safety measures to keep children safe around pools. And with good reason - about 350 children under 5 drown in swimming pools each year.

But the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that it's not just the pool that requires your attention when it comes to keeping your kids safe from drowning.

"While many of us are aware of the dangers a backyard pool poses to young children, not everyone knows about other drowning hazards around the home," said CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore. "CPSC is alerting parents and caregivers to drowning hazards that might not be so obvious, to help prevent these devastating losses."

About 115 children a year drown in hazards around the home, the CPSC says. The CPCS has received reports of 459 young children who drowned in bathtubs, buckets, toilets, spas, hot tubs, and other containers of water between 1996 and 1999.

Most of those drowning deaths - about two-thirds - occurred in bathtubs. Most bathtub deaths occur when the caregiver is not present; a child can drown in the time it takes to step out of the room to get a towel or answer the telephone, the CPCS says. In at least 10 percent of the fatalities, the child was in a bath seat.

From 1996 to 1999 some 58 children under 5 drowned in 5-gallon buckets, the most deadly because of their tall, straight sides and stability. A small amount of water can be deadly.

Toilets are often overlooked as a hazard, but 16 children 5 and under drowned from 1996-1999 by falling headfirst.

Spas and hot tubs can also be deadly - 55 children died in the three-year period. Other products that can cause drowning deaths include landscape ponds, sinks, and fish tanks.

The CPCS offers these tips to keep your children out of harm's way:

Published: June 10, 2002

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