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. 2017 Jul;9(2):91-94.
doi: 10.5249/jivr.v9i2.805. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

A search for a safer bucket to prevent children drowning at home

Alfredo Celis  1 , Maria de Jesus Orozco-Valerio, Ana Cecilia Mendez-Magana, Alfredo Celis-Orozco
Affiliations

A search for a safer bucket to prevent children drowning at home

Alfredo Celis et al. J Inj Violence Res. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Unintentional drowning is the leading cause of death for children younger than 5 years old. A bucket is one of the most common water container in which children can drown. The objective of this work was to evaluate the base diameter of a bucket and the necessary force to shed it.

Methods: This was an experimental study. We used six galvanized buckets of different diameters. Each selected bucket was pulled using a pulley with other buckets full of water until the water spilled out. The statistical analysis was done by linear regression with p less than 0.05 as statistically significant.

Results: This research shows a direct relation between the wide base diameter (in a bucket 23 cm high, 25 cm rim, with a 20 cm water depth) and the strength required to spill the liquid contents (β= 1.21; x= diameter of the base in centimeters; α= 14.59; r= 0.99 and p less than 0.001).

Conclusions: We conclude that the bucket structure could determine the risk of child drowning. The risk could increase directly as its base width increases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethical approval: Not required.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Types of buckets used.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Traction movement of buckets
Figure 3
Figure 3. Correlation and regression graph.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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