Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.

First, after she inadvertently leaves the children unattended, her best friend's 2-year-old daughter drowns in the pond.

According to a 1985 survey of libraries in Los Angeles, between 1,500 and 2,000 unattended children were using the public library each day as a refuge.

One is a question of safety and liability: librarians say they cannot be responsible for the safety of unattended children.

Bathtub: Never leave your child unattended in a bathtub or bath ring.

Safety experts say that most of the drownings occur when children, unattended for a moment, wander outside homes.

An image flashed before my eyes: baby wailing unattended, older children catatonic while their mother struggled to turn a square of paper into a hibiscus.

Mr. Santoro has devised a policy for dealing with lost, unattended or missing children within casino hotels.

Ms. Lear said at least two passersby noticed the unattended child crying and went inside the restaurant to search for the parents.

They worry about the potential liability should an unattended child be hurt, molested or abducted while at the facility.