I would like to congratulation President Obama. I’ve appreciated the fact that he’s called for a new era of responsibility. This got me thinking on something that has been uppermost in my mind recently – ensuring child safety in commercial pools and spas.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal about 80% of approximately 300,000 public pools and spas around the country still have not complied with new federal safety requirements, which took effect in December 2008.
I’d like to explain why the new federally approved drain covers make a difference in safety. The older-style drain covers were flat and flush against the bottom of a pool which meant that suction could trap swimmers, especially small children, to the drain.
The new covers have the following safety features:
• Shaped as a dome, limiting the surface area that comes in contact with the swimmer’s body.
• Have smaller openings to prevent fingers or even hair from getting trapped.
• Limit the rate at which water flows into the drain to prevent suction entrapment.
Parents really need to be proactive and take the time to inquire whether their local pools are compliant with safety standards. I urge commercial pool owners to educate themselves on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act as well as the latest Florida state requirements. Instead of complacency, or “it can’t happen to me” approach, we’ll all be better served by taking a responsible stance when it comes to protecting our kids.
A lot of the focus on the Virginia Graeme Baker Act has been on commercial pool owners and operators. Many are still scrambling to meet the December 18, 2008 deadline. They are worried about fines or having their pool or spa closed down.
However, the focus should be on the lives that will be saved through compliance with these new pool and spa safety standards. Consider Virginia Graeme Baker.
Virginia Graeme Baker, the 7-year-old granddaughter of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, was in a hot tub during a party in 2002. Her mother, Nancy Baker could not pry her daughter free from the drain. The 7 year old was trapped and later died. The complete story is available on CNN - https://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/15/entrapment.pools/index.html.
Nancy Baker lobbied for a law that would protect children from entrapment. According to CNN, some states and towns are being more lenient than others enforcing the law. Nancy Baker feels there should be only one standard: saving children's lives.
Thankfully, the state of Florida has been very proactive about enforcing safety standards that protect children. If you’re not sure about whether you pool complies with safety standards make sure it to have it assessed by a licensed professional.
Many of Florida’s commercial pool owners are confused about the new requirements under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. It’s not surprising. They need to navigate and understand federal and state standards which include the submission of extensive paperwork. They also are receiving conflicting information from pool companies and the media.
For example, in a recent article in South Florida Sun-Sentinel, they quoted a woman whose company manages retirement communities in South Florida. She said, "We have no idea yet how much it will be, but it's going to cost these people a fortune. They will have to drain the pools down to do the installation."
Replacing the drain cover is a relatively simple step to reach federal compliance. However, pools with direct suction have the additional requirement of upgrading to a federally compliant drain system. If proposed Florida state legislation now being considered is passed, direct suction pools will have to meet additional state requirements.
Child Safety is the goal of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act so we encourage all pool and spa owners to familiarize themselves with the law to ensure compliance.
