The Virginia Graham Baker Act!
21 January 2011 / Commercial Pool, Pool Drains, Pool Safety, Residential Pools / 2 Comments
The safety of our children is important, but around swimming pools is even more important that we remain diligent in our efforts of both supervision and protection.
If we fail in our capacity as guardians, the government is always ready to step in and do the job for us. The Virginia Graham Baker Act is a prime example of the seizure of our parental authority.
While the Virginia Graham Baker Act is currently specific to Commercial Pools (Public Pools), there are rumblings that the scope of the act will be enlarged to include current residential pool owners.
The law was written to protect children from becoming trapped in the main drain. The suction in some main drains is so strong that once a child becomes trapped, he or she cannot extricate him/herself. While we believe the law may be necessary for commercial pools, we are a little more skeptical
when it comes to residential pool owners.
Currently the law states that all public pools in use shall be retrofitted to include an anti suction device or an additional main drain; and all new pools, commercial and residential, must include two drains.
While an additional drain is one solution to limit the detrimental effects of too much suction in one area, there are other less expensive solutions for current residential pool owners.
A less expensive solution, and one that appears more reasonable for homeowners, is the replacement of the current main drain cover.
All new drain covers must comply with American National Standard ASME A112.19.8 - 2007 Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs.
Keep Our Future Safe
A new main drain cover could help minimize the possibility of someone becoming trapped in the drain and this is a very inexpensive solution to a mounting problem.
If the Virginia Graham Baker Act is expanded to include residential pools, the cost will be substantial. A new drain cover, installed, is $450.00.
We must protect our children and we must have the right to determine our own solution to problems that affect our families. Please call with any questions concerning main drain covers.
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The safety of our children is important, but around swimming pools is even more important that we remain diligent in our efforts of both supervision and protection.
If we fail in our capacity as guardians, the government is always ready to step in and do the job for us. The Virginia Graham Baker Act is a prime example of the seizure of our parental authority.
While the Virginia Graham Baker Act is currently specific to Commercial Pools (Public Pools), there are rumblings that the scope of the act will be enlarged to include current residential pool owners.
The law was written to protect children from becoming trapped in the main drain. The suction in some main drains is so strong that once a child becomes trapped, he or she cannot extricate him/herself. While we believe the law may be necessary for commercial pools, we are a little more skeptical |
when it comes to residential pool owners.
Currently the law states that all public pools in use shall be retrofitted to include an anti suction device or an additional main drain; and all new pools, commercial and residential, must include two drains.
While an additional drain is one solution to limit the detrimental effects of too much suction in one area, there are other less expensive solutions for current residential pool owners.
A less expensive solution, and one that appears more reasonable for homeowners, is the replacement of the current main drain cover.
All new drain covers must comply with American National Standard ASME A112.19.8 - 2007 Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs.
|
A new main drain cover could help minimize the possibility of someone becoming trapped in the drain and this is a very inexpensive solution to a mounting problem.
If the Virginia Graham Baker Act is expanded to include residential pools, the cost will be substantial. A new drain cover, installed, is $450.00.
We must protect our children and we must have the right to determine our own solution to problems that affect our families. Please call with any questions concerning main drain covers.
|
2 Comments
Pacheco
March 14, 2011 6:19 pmPersonal freedom vs. protection is always an interesting debate, I think replacing the drain cover should be sufficient. The last thing we need is another law that is designed for "Safety" that ends up costing us all dearly for very little protection. Commercial pools is one thing, personal pools is another.
admin
July 14, 2011 12:31 pmThanks Pacheco!
Here at Great American Pool Care, we certainly understand and agree with you regarding rights to personal freedom, but also as a father understand that manufacturers rarely look after the best interests of our children. It's not necessarily that they don't care, they just didn't see this coming and frankly were a bit slow to get something done about it.
The real danger of drownings and pool suction entrapment, as far as percentages go, occur in residential pools, not commercial pools. The law clearly provides protection for the commercial pool patron, a category that had very few incidents, but provided no guidance or protection for homes where families with children are at play.
The facts are simple, this is an easy problem to fix, it costs very little to fix it, why not just get it right and protect our children. That makes sense to me as a father, and a fellow citizen.
Throughout Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and all Los Angeles and the San fernando Valley Great, American Pool Care is providing pool safety audits to inspect for potential dangers and to correct them before it's too late.
Interesting to note.. just as I write this I got an email from a friend with this tragic article of a teenage girl, 13, sucked to her death by swimming pool circulation pump after workers forgot to replace grille.
This was a simple fix... totally avoidable. It never needs to happen.