The federal government enacted a law in December 2008 that requires all swimming pool owners to place drain covers on their pool filtration systems. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act federally mandates to have anti-entrapment drain covers in place.
This law comes after thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths resulting from children being caught in the strong suction of the drain. Drains can produce up to 800 pounds of force, catching a child’s hair, limb or even torso in the drain.
Putting it bluntly, they suck.
The problem is, despite this relatively new law, government officials and local authorities aren’t exactly stalking public pools like a ‘tween at Jonas Brothers’ concert.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that only half of all public pools are in compliance with the law. Though the CPSC is the agency responsible for the law’s enforcement, they do not have the resources to travel from state to state and pool to pool.
As parents, we have the responsibility to not only use drain covers on our private pools, but to make sure our local pools, gymnasiums and schools are using the covers as well. After all, we should use our voices for something besides sending our kids to the naughty corner. It could save the life of a child, and it could be your own.
(Photo By: Jimmy Santos)
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