Content warning: risk to children

Julia and I know drowning is the biggest risk to US children under 5, and we try to take this seriously. But yesterday our 4yo came very close to drowning in a fountain. (She's fine now.)

This week we were on vacation with my extended family: nine kids, eight parents, and ten grandparents/uncles/aunts. For the last few years we've been in a series of rental houses, and this time on arrival we found a fountain in the backyard:

I immediately checked the depth with a stick and found that it would be just below the elbows on our 4yo. I think it was likely 24" deep; any deeper and PA would require a fence. I talked with Julia and other parents, and reasoned that since it was within standing depth it was safe.

[...]

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First published:
July 20th, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Zf2Kib3GrEAEiwdrE/shallow-water-is-dangerous-too

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Images from the article:

Circular garden fountain with decorative statue and three white ducks swimming.

Two people splashing and playing in a woodland stream during summer.

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“Shallow Water is Dangerous Too” by jefftk

LessWrong (30+ Karma)