A 14-month-old toddler tragically drowned in pail of water when his mother left briefly to answer a phone call.
Children love water! Whether they’re having fun bathing in the bathtub or splashing around in a pool — your toddler is sure to have heaps of fun.
However, when you perform an everyday task such as filling pail with water, you will never expect that this innocent act can cause the death of your child.
But tragic accidents can happen. Malaysian bank officer Mohamad Zawawi Husain and his wife, Surianti Zahari who is a teacher lost their 14-month-old boy to a half-full pail of water.
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Plans washed down the drain
The couple had moved into a rented home in January with their three young children in preparation of buying their dream home.
However, their plans went down the drain when their 14-month-old toddler drowned in a pail of water that was left in the bathroom of their home.
Mother answered a call
The boy, Mohamad Bilal was playing with his sister and cousin in the master bedroom when his mother left the room to answer a call from her husband.
The incident is believed to have happened at about 3.30pm when Bilal’s mother, who is a teacher just returned from school.
Reports speculate that Bilal entered the bathroom when his mother was talking on the phone.
14-month-old found dead by his mother
The toddler’s lifeless body was found with his head submerged in the half-full pail when his mother returned.
She alerted her husband before rushing Bilal to the Permatang Badak health clinic where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A lesson learnt the hard way
Zawawi mentioned that he had read reports about similar incidents, but never expected it to happen to his son.
“My wife, traumatised by the incident, no longer wants to stay here. We will temporarily stay at my mother’s home nearby,” he exclaimed.
Pointing at the red pail, Zawawi hopes that this tragedy will serve as a lesson to parents with young children.
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Water safety at home
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among toddlers. It is also the third leading cause of death among children.
Here are some tips all parents should keep in mind to prevent your little one from drowning at home:
Never leave your child unattended around water
Just picking up a call inside the house or grabbing a sandwich from the kitchen can end in tragedy. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water!
Put away any distractions
That means leaving your phone, gadgets, and games inside the house! Your kids deserve 100% of your attention whenever they are near or around water.
Empty all tubs and pails
You should empty all tubs, pails, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Parents should store these items upside down and keep them out of your children’s reach.
Keep toilet seats closed
Yes, your toddler can drown in a toilet bowl. It may sound weird, but it does happen! So, keep all toilet seats close and use toilet seat locks to prevent any possible drowning. Parents should also keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed at all times.
Learn CPR
I know that parents have a million and one things to do, but learning CPR can possibly safe a life!
Sources:
Toddler drowns in pail of water
Water safety at home
