Drowning is one of the most dreaded of all ways to die, a recurring theme in bad dreams and horror movies, yet each year in the United States hundreds of people drown in pools and spas, including almost 300 children under the age of 5. Particularly disturbing are the deaths, injuries and trauma associated with Suction Entrapment, which involves a person getting caught on a bottom drain or other suction port and held by it under the water. The victim risks not only drowning but evisceration by the powerful suction action of the pump. The June 2002 Suction Entrapment death of the young child of a prominent American family set in motion what became the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, with the goal of eliminating suction entrapment and further reducing other pool and spa-related deaths and injuries. That act puts into motion mandatory changes to improve swimming pool and spa safety for children and adults throughout the USA .
Every drowning death and injury is preventable with necessary supervision and care in the construction, maintenance and operation of the pools and spas. The VGB Act mandates some changes in construction methods, safety devices and pool access but ultimately the most effective safety measures are increased education and supervision. While the VGB Act focuses on improving safety in publicly operated pools, residential pool proposals are also made. Major provisions of this legislation include:
1. Requiring that every public pool in the USA be equipped with anti-entrapment devices and systems.
Tags: baker pool and spa, entrapment devices, pools and spas, spa safety