Contact: John Procter
Phone: (800) 970-8420
www.poolsafetycouncil.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Florida Drain Entrapment of Five Year-Old Child Underscores Need for Layers of Protection in All Pools

WASHINGTON, DC – July 9, 2009 – Pool owners were reminded of the need for important safety modifications to pools nationwide once again yesterday, when a five-year-old boy in Florida became the nation’s latest entrapment victim yesterday.

The Sun Sentinel reported Wednesday that the child got his arm stuck under several feet of water in an unprotected spa drain. Police officers raced to the scene but were unable to initially pry him from the drain’s suction power. When they had finally freed the child, he was unconscious. Only by performing CPR were the officers able to save the boy’s life.

Pool Safety Council, America’s leading voice on drowning and entrapment prevention, has long advocated entrapment protection.  According to initial reports, the drain cover in the Florida spa was either damaged or missing. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires layers of protection– all public pools must install approved safety drain covers and all single drain public pools must also install an anti-entrapment device, such as a safety vacuum release system. Private pool owners and operators can install the same equipment to protect swimmers in their backyard pools as well, even though the law does not apply to them.

“We are thankful this latest entrapment accident was not fatal,” Pool Safety Council Spokesman John Procter said. “But the occurrence is just another reminder that everyone needs to outfit their pools with both approved safety drain covers and anti-entrapment devices, such as a safety vacuum release system.”

The accident in Florida happened just one day after The Today Show aired a report on drain entrapment. To watch the story and for more information on the Pool Safety Council, please visit our web site at www.poolsafetycouncil.org.