By Staff Reporter

Sharjah — A young girl has died after drowning in a plastic wash basin containing a small amount of water at her family’s home in Sharjah, prompting renewed warnings about hidden drowning risks for young children.

According to Gulf News, the child was found face down in the basin after her mother briefly lost sight of her while preparing a meal in the kitchen.

The basin, which was used to hand-wash the children’s clothes, contained less than a quarter of its depth in water.

The mother reportedly noticed her daughter was missing during a five-minute break in a cartoon her son was watching on television. She searched the bedrooms before asking the household helper whether she had seen the child.

After failing to locate her daughter, the mother checked the bathroom connected to the living room, where she found the child submerged in the basin.

She immediately removed the girl from the water, sought help and contacted emergency medical services. The child was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Drowning can happen silently

Forensic expert Al Dhabah warned that young children can drown within minutes, even in shallow water and in familiar surroundings.

The expert cautioned against the misconception that drowning is always accompanied by loud cries for help, splashing or visible signs of struggle.

Young children may be unable to lift their heads or call for help once their faces are submerged, allowing an incident to go unnoticed even when an adult is nearby.

The tragedy highlights the dangers posed by ordinary household containers, including plastic basins, buckets and tubs, when left filled with water within children’s reach.

Parents urged to take precautions

Parents and caregivers have been urged to empty water containers immediately after use and keep bathrooms and other potentially hazardous areas inaccessible to young children.

Safety measures include keeping bathroom doors closed, installing childproof locks where appropriate and maintaining close supervision around water.

The incident also serves as a warning that even a brief lapse in supervision can have fatal consequences, and that young children should never be left unattended near water, regardless of its depth.

Source: Gulf News