Saturday, July 21, 2012

Keep Your Pool or Spa Drain Properly Covered to Avoid Entrapment



Keeping a pool or spa properly maintained is important to extend the life and enjoyment of it. One aspect of maintenance that can easily be overlooked is the drain. If the drain is uncovered,  or the cover is broken or improperly attached, it can lead to a person becoming entrapped. Without a proper drain cover, the suction from the drain can easily pull hair, clothing or body parts into the drain, entrapping the swimmer, causing injury or even death.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act was passed in 2007, which requires every public pool and spa in the United States to be equipped with anti-entrapment drain covers and other safety devices. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) followed up with a public awareness campaign in an "effort to reduce child drownings and non-fatal submersions, and entrapments in swimming pools and spas." This law does not, however, apply to residential pools and spas.

Before you or anyone you love steps into a friend's or neighbor's pool or spa, ask the homeowner if the drain is fitted with an anti-entrapment drain cover. These covers are dome shaped in a way that prevents objects or bodies from completely covering the drain and creating a dangerous suction. When visiting a public pool, be sure to check the drain covers. If they are flat, it might not be the best place for you or your loved ones to swim.



AquaStar® Super High Flow 8" Anti-Entrapment Suction Outlet Cover



Check your pool's or spa's drain cover at the start of the season to be sure it isn't broken. Those few extra moments could save a life.


This post sponsored by PoolGear Plus®.

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