Nearly 650 hundred children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools every year.

Hospital emergency room treatment is required for more than 3,100 children under 5 years old who were submerged in residential pools.

US –Consumer Product SafetyCommission

Facts from the CPSC

• Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children under the age of 6 in Florida, California, Arizona and Oregon

Facts from the CPSC

Facts from the CPSC

• Individuals in the 5-9 year-old category had the highest frequency of entrapment reports

However…

• Many adults have died after getting trapped at uncovered pool drains

• Several entrapments are not being reported to the CSPC

Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

• Law enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007, to prevent the hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas.

• The law became effective on December 19, 2008.

• Law applies only to Public Pools. • Why not to residential pools?

80% of the children drownings occur at residential pools!!

Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

Pool Hazards

•Drain Entrapment

•Unsupervised kids drownings

•Slippery surfaces

Drain Entrapment

• Single main drain systems and flat drain grates pose the greater risk at pools

• Chemical degradation of covers and other parts.

Types of Entrapment

• Hair Entrapment

• Limb Entrapment

• Body Entrapment

• DisembowelmentEvisceration

Pump suction force demonstration

Our neighbor, 5 year old Miguel Marin, survived

after being trapped at an in-ground spa for about 5 minutes

under water

Unfortunately many others have not been that lucky

14 year old – BritishBoy died at ThailandWater Park

7 year old Virginia GraemeBaker Secretary of State Bakers' granddaughter

Are Kids Out of Sight? They Shouldn’t Be!

• Children must be supervised and within your sight AT ALL TIMES while in the pool.

• A telephone must be available in the pool area to call 911, in case of any emergency

• US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend pool owners to have many layers of protection to prevent drownings

Entrapments can be prevented

Layers of Protection

1. Swimming Classes

Layers of Protection1. 02. Education and awareness about entrapment

danger at any public or residential pool

Layers of Protection

3. Goggles and Floating Devices

4. Barriers, fences

Layers of Protection

Layers of Protection

5. Pool Alarms, Window Alarms

6. Certified Drain Covers

Layers of Protection

7. Safety Vacuum Release Systems SVRS

Layers of Protection

A pool evaluation by an expert Can give you peace of mind

Layers of Protection

• Swimming Lessons• Education and danger awareness• Goggles and Floating devices• Pool barriers, fences.• Pool alarms and Window Alarms• Certified Drain Covers• Safety Vacuum Release System