Swimming Pool Drains
Swimming SafetySwimming pool drains are both dangerous and deadly. The Virginia Graeme Baker Act was passed to prevent accidental pool drownings. Swimming pool drains have accounted for hundreds of death in the last 30 years. They can come loose or not be there at all. Having a proper drain and an understanding of what can happen can save a child's life. Children like to swim to the deepest part of the pool and see how fast they can come back up. Most of the time children, or adults for that matter, have no idea the power that is created by pool's filtration system. This suction is so powerful it can actually hold a grown adult down. Imagine what it can do to a child, resulting in injury or drowning. There have been cases where children have been disemboweled after sitting on a pool drain. Don't allow you child become another drowning statistic.
If you have an interesting story or question about a swimming pool drain or swimming safety you can go here to submit your story. Virginia Graeme Baker ActPUBLIC LAW 110–140—DEC. 19, 2007 TITLE XIV—POOL AND SPA SAFETYSEC. 1401. SHORT TITLE.This title may be cited as the ‘‘Virginia Graeme Baker Pooland Spa Safety Act’’.SEC. 1402. FINDINGS Congress finds the following:
I know that many people are not big fans of Congress, but hey, even a broken watch is right twice per day. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (along with the death of Abigail Taylor) was passed by Congress in 2007 and requires commercial pools to replace their old drain with a safety pool drain.I am proud to say that the YMCA in Albany, Or was, to the best of my knowledge, one of the first commercial pools in the state of Oregon that installed a new pool drain. This law is for the improvement and inspections of commercial pools and Hot Tubs, however, enforcing the law is a bit more difficult. Many pools are not inspected and the parents take for granted that the pools in which they and their children swim are safe.
Will You Ask, Or Not?To make sure that the pool in which you swim is safe, ask the pool operator or manager for the documentation of their compliance to the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. If they can’t, ask why. If they don’t have a good solid answer, simply walk away. Refuse to swim in that pool and don’t allow your children near the pool. If you do allow them to swim, tell them in no uncertain terms to stay away from the bottom swimming pool drain. No T.V. for a year, grounding for life, no video games until they're 90 years old, whatever it takes. It’s not a game. It could save your child’s life. By the way, I believe all pools should have been compliant by December 2008.
Suction EntrapmentThere are mainly 5 kinds of suction entrapment. It is what it says it is, simply being trapped to a swimming pool drain by the suction it creates.
So What Do I Do Now?Hopefully I have your attention. If I do, then read on. If I don’t, read the above and look at the picture again until I have your attention, then come back here.
Anti Entrapment DrainsThis will give a ball-park figure of what you may expect to pay for a safety swimming pool drain.
There are some swimming pool drains that simply cover the drain. This is mainly for your pool cleaner to not get stuck on the bottom pool drain. Injuries and deaths from swimming pool drains have been going on for years, but just recently has anything been done about it. I say good. It's about time we're all on the same page concerning swimming safety. That's something of which I am obnoxiously stubborn. I give you permission to be upset and mad at me only after you have a new safety drain. Get that drain fixed and have a safe and long swimming season. Be the example and get it done today. Go To: Home From Swimming Pool Drains
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