Drowning is one of the most feared ways to die, a recurring theme in nightmares and horror movies; however, each year in the United States, hundreds of people drown in pools and spas, including nearly 300 children under the age of 5. Of concern are the deaths, injuries, and trauma associated with suction entrapment, which involves a person becoming trapped in a bottom drain or other suction port and being held underwater. The victim is at risk of not only drowning but also being eviscerated by the powerful suction action of the pump. The June 2002 suction-entrapment death of a young boy from 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 related deaths and injuries. with pools and spas. That law puts in place mandatory changes to improve the safety of swimming pools and spas for children and adults throughout the United States.
All deaths and injuries from drowning are preventable with proper supervision and care in the construction, maintenance, and operation of swimming pools and spas. The VGB Law requires some changes to construction methods, safety devices and pool access, but ultimately the most effective safety measures are increased education and supervision. While the VGB Law focuses on improving safety in public pools, proposals for residential pools are also being made. The main provisions of this legislation include:
1. Require all public pools in the US to be equipped with anti-entrapment devices and systems.
2. Make grant funds available to states that adopt the provisions of the Act and establish new rules for public and residential pools within the state that require additional basic access-related safety devices and equipment. Grant funds would be used to fund state compliance with the requirements and to develop and implement an educational program to increase awareness of the risks and dangers of swimming and how to avoid them.
In December, all public pool and/or spa operators in the US must comply with these new regulations. Two things are immediately affected; suction drains and emergency shutdown of pumps. The ways in which an operator can comply will involve at least one or a combination of these options:
– No main drain or other suction outlet that could trap a person
– Use ASME/ANSI approved anti-vortex drain covers that have been tested for resistance to ultraviolet light, hair and body entrapment/entrapment, and flow compatibility with the pool or spa pump.
– Dual main drains on a single pump with enough distance between them (at least 3 feet) so that no one person can block both at the same time. All drain covers must be of the ASME/ANSI approved type.
– A single unblockable main drain of such size and shape that a single person cannot block it
– A drainage system by gravity, without suction.
– A suction limiting ventilation system
– Drain deactivation device or system
– Automatic pump shutdown system. This can no longer be a system that
– Requires one person to locate the switch and manually turn it off. must be
– Fully automatic and designed to operate at the first indication of drain blockage.
– Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS)
– There are many brands and designs for this type of system. They include separate SVRSs that can be installed into an existing pool system and systems for new pools that work in conjunction with the manifold drain.
Some of the products needed to implement these provisions are already available and can be purchased now. Research and development of other methods continues by all pool equipment manufacturers and some in the pool and spa construction business. The best way to meet the requirements should be a matter determined at each pool or spa and with extensive professional help. The legal and liability ramifications of noncompliance do not allow for careless decision-making about how and how quickly to comply.
Education
In addition to the active and passive systems required for public pools and recommended for private pools, the VGB Law requires the development of an educational program to be implemented at the national and state levels that provides educational materials for all pool professionals as well as pool owners. and operators; and a national media campaign on pool and spa safety. The grants will be made available to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and to the states for this purpose.
For any of the states to receive federal grants under the VGB Act, they must also act.
An important provision under state law would include:
– The enclosure of all outdoor residential pools and spas with entry barriers that effectively prevent young children from gaining unsupervised and unrestricted access to the pool or spa. (15 USC 8005 Sec. 1406 (a)(1)(A)(i)). Such barriers would include pool safety covers, gates (as currently required for public pools), fences, gate alarms, and pool alarms.
– Equip all pools and spas with anti-entrapment devices
– New build requirements for anti-entrapment
– An educational program for pool and spa owners.
Implementation of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act will take many years. Residential pool and spa owners can be proactive and take the initiative by evaluating the safety of their own facilities and making the necessary changes to protect children and adults from a tragic and unnecessary drowning accident. Your local pool professional is ready and can help you determine what you need to do and get the equipment to do it. Don’t wait until an emergency occurs; then it’s too late.
You can get more information and advice on pool entrapment and safety products as well as other pool equipment such as pool filters, pumps, cleaners and pool equipment parts at POOLplaza Pool Supplies
