Report shows dangers of bathtub drownings

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state Health Department report shows bathtubs are more dangerous than people might realize.<br/><br/>Between 1988 and 2003, bathtubs were involved in more than 200 submersion injuries

Friday, August 13th 2004, 5:41 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state Health Department report shows bathtubs are more dangerous than people might realize.

Between 1988 and 2003, bathtubs were involved in more than 200 submersion injuries -- with 110 people drowning.

The report shows 90 percent of the submersions were unintentional, four percent suicide, two percent homicide and 4 percent were of unknown origin.

More than half the problems were with children up to age four.

Health officials say young children should never be left alone in a bathtub -- even for a minute.

For older adults, pre-existing conditions such as seizures or impaired mental status can cause submersions.

The Health Department says survival was highest when submersion time was less than five minutes, but decreased thereafter.