STAN16-2-NEISS infant bathing product submersions & drownings

INCIDENT INVESTIGATION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
NEISS Infant Bathing Product FATAL Submersions/Drownings
DOCUMENT NUMBER:
DATE OF INCIDENT:
FOLLOW-UP REQUESTED

CATID: STAN16 2020
HAZARD ANALYSIS

COMPLIANCE

PRIMARY CONTACT: Ted Yang, EPHA, 301-504-7838, tyang@cpsc.gov
BACK-UP CONTACTS: Celestine Kish, ESHF, 301-987-2547, ckish@cpsc.gov
ASSIGNMENT MESSAGE:

For fatal submersion NEISS incidents involving children 12 months and younger that occurred in
bathtubs and/or infant bathing products (baby bathtubs, bath seats, bath rings, bath aides, etc.), please
assign for follow-up investigation. It is very important to obtain photos of the bath tub and any infant
bathing products involved. In particular, photos or labels and product markings including manufacturer’s
details and date codes should be obtained. Standards have been, and are being, developed related to these
infant products. Information regarding these incidents is important to address the efficacy of standards
and is also needed to understand relative safety of such products in comparison to safety in a household
tub.
It is important to collect as much information as possible about the product(s) and incident scenario.
The latest version of the at home submersion report can be found at:
https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/nonpoolsub2012.pdf

Below are definitions to help understand the various types of infant bathing products. Please refer to
products by these classifications in the investigation.
A. Bath seat: A product that contains a bottom surface for sitting. It is used by an occupant who is
seated upright (80-110 degrees). It provides some level of rigid support to the back, sides, and/or front. It
is not intended to retain water and is not inflatable. See possible sub-categories below:
1) Support arm - bath seat with an arm that hooks over the side of tub for stability.
2) Movable side - bath seat that has movable or folding sides used for getting access to the child.
B. Bath ring: identical to bath seat, but with no integral seat bottom (A ring on top with columns that
attach to the tub). If there is a seat bottom, it is removable and could be made of some foam type of
material.
C. Bath tub: rigid structure intended to retain water. See possible sub-categories below:
1) Reclining - contains a built-in reclining side
2) Added support - contains something internal to the tub that provides some level of rigid
support to the back, sides, and/or front.
3) Bucket/Pod - tub with high sides and small seating area. It is typically cylindrical in shape.
D. Bathing aides: Other miscellaneous devices not included above. This could include cushions (not
inflatable) or other products used for bathing.

CPSC FORM 324A

E. Combination: Products that can be more than one of the above such as bath seat/ baby bath tubs
products where based on its position it can be either. Please be sure and note the position it was in at the
time of the incident.
F. Infant Sling: Material that can be attached to and removed from an infant bathtub or frame for use in
an infant bathtub. Typically intended for use with newborns and young infants.
G. Infant bather: Material attached to a frame or all one piece that can be used with an infant bathtub or
directly in an adult tub or sink. It is not intended to retain water.
H. Miscellaneous: Specialty products intended for children with special needs.

In conducting these investigations, please use the following Guidelines:
• Bathtubs - Appendix 111
• Baby Bath Seats - Appendix 130
Please include all primary and all backup contacts in the distribution of the completed IDI.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Area below will be completed in Data Systems _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Person(s) to Contact:
Guidelines: Appendix 111 – Bathtub Incidents
Appendix 130 – Baby bath seats

Task Number:
Assigned to:

CPSC FORM 324A

Date:
Processed by: lew