Toddlers Down the Drain — Water Safety

Grandmama: As I returned my granddaughter to her mother and father after a morning together, I noticed a terrifying safety concern on their subdivision street in front of their house: the storm culvert.

That deceptive slot in the curb snatches the lives of children, teenagers and pets every year. In my hometown of La Porte, Texas, a teen slipped into one in front of the high school. He drowned with his body recovered from Galveston Bay, where the drain exited.

A storm culvert is the drainage system designed to carry away rainwater, preventing flooding in your neighborhood. The curb entrances are most visible. However, storm sewers now commonly occur in beautifully mowed ditches -- where children might play.  The one at the high school was through a regular culvert, which provided access to the parking lot. This applies to all these, too.

That large slot includes a slope extending into the gutter, designed to scoop water in quickly. This trip hazard possesses enough clearance to fall into a large roughly finished hole, 6 - 12 feet deep.

A fall of that height may merely result in cuts, bruises and broken bones. It could also result in unconsciousness in a very small amount of standing water. It doesn't take much to drown. Some say two tablespoons, in the right circumstances.

There are, of course, exits to these drains. These exits may be underwater or through a maze of other pipes. Sometimes, to obtain swift enough drainage, these complex constructions incorporate further drops. It makes it very difficult to recover anyone lost in one.

Manhole covers, which provide access to the system, are very heavy, requiring special equipment to remove them. Manhole covers, designed for cars to be driven on, must be strong. Manhole covers, designed to remain on in flooding, have to be heavy.

Seconds matter in an accident. You are likely to wait many minutes for fire and emergency rescue equipment to arrive. Meanwhile your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, niece or nephew, or young friend may bleed to death or drown.

Appropriate grates belong on these. I have never seen one. Vigilance is your family's only protection:

• Never allow anyone to "play" in storm flooding -- even minor street flooding. Dual dangers exist: being swept into the drain and falling into one where the flooding has dislodged one in the roadway.


• Walk well away from curb culvert. I never take a street walk (we often have no sidewalks here) with a child or even a pet on the side of the street with the culvert. I wouldn't consider jogging, running or walking near one, even when by myself.


• Campaign for culverts near playgrounds and schools to be properly protected.


• Educate your family to the dangers.This is a simple cross-section of a storm sewer. Most are far more complex.

Comments

[AuntyB and Grandmama]

Dear Jennifer:
In the city of Pasadena, Texas, near where I live, the newest in the curb storm gutters have a vertical grate every 6 inches or so that blocks debris (and people) from entering. Somebody out there is making that possible and I think it would be a reasonable request to have those installed.

Educating your children and other mothers is your very first line of defense in any safety situation. No one should EVER venture into flood waters, no matter how apparently shallow. No one should ever walk on top of manhole covers. Two eyes on children at all times, even in deceptively safe areas like playground is absolutely necessary. Think of it like driving.

I haven't found much on the web either. Occasional news stories, even though this is a problem, is about all we get. If anyone finds anything to share, please add your comments to this post!

[Jennifer]

I just came across your website while researching the dangers of these drains. My City Councilman informed me that a 20 foot storm drain is going in my front yard and a 10 foot one directly across the street from me at the city park.
We live across the street from the park and play there all the time. I am terrified for the safety of my children (I have 3 young children) and for all of those children that live and play near the park and at my house. We do not have sidewalks and our children ride their bikes next to the curb and I fear my slip and fall into the drain.
Would you happen to have any additional articles on the dangers that I might pass on and hopefully get the city government to reconsider the placement of these drains? Thank you for the information and for your website! Jennifer

[Grandmama]

Dear Cynthia,
I read your comment with horror. It's just that situation that merits attention. It looks like newer storm drains in some neighborhoods are being installed with 6" apart grills. No help for you and me though.

Please consider sending your comment to your local newspaper. As a group, parents in a community can often raise awareness and effect change. Since you have school aged children, a call to the principal of the school and contacting your parent-teacher organization may be a place to start. Here, the children walk on the sides of the street, passing those inlets twice a day on their ways to and from school. There are no sidewalks.

Even painting those things red or yellow and educating parents and children to the dangers would help.

On behalf of that toddler's parents, thank you for your quick thinking and action.

Grandmama

[Cynthia Cottrell]

An incident today prompted me to do a search on the WWW, and brought me to your site. After walking back from seeing my children to the bus stop this morning, one of my daycare children, 17 months old, slipped and fell and ended up in the storm sewer drain along our street. Thank God she is a chubby little thing and her tush stopped her as well as the rebar sticking out from the damaged drain catching on her clothes. It sickens me to think what might have happened had she slipped the rest of the way in that drain. I wish there were a way to make parents more aware of this.

[Grandmama]

Dear Jacqueline,
Welcome to the United States. I hope you soon find that it's truly home here for you and your family. Obviously, you are on guard for your toddler's safety, and that will keep him safe in many situations where others are unaware.

Growing up near the water almost resulted in my own drowning as a three year old, except for the quick action of my father who was there, on the spot.

Manholes servicing these underground systems also sometimes go missing either due to vandalism or storm waters forcing them off. Try to notice where they are on your nearby sidewalks and play areas for your own peace of mind and your child's safety.

Some cities are installing the new ones in the curbs with six inch grates, but few of the older ones are being fitted. We hope that will happen as they are replaced through the years.

In the meantime, stay vigilant and, having done so, enjoy every moment of your little one's childhood. It is truly only a small span of time that they are entrusted to our care.

[Jacqueline]

I'm new to USA. Very good information,I am shocked these huge drain holes are not child safe. You would expect that they have a warning around them or painted in red to alert parents of danger.
I have a 20 month old, and he almost fell down one as he was just walking by and the slip made him fall. We live in a culdi sack area, and it was not something anyone ever told us about. It would be nice if there were more awareness of this issue.