I received a press release the other day from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about a pool and spa safety campaign set to launch on May 24th, 2010 to “start a national conversation to change the way Americans think and act about pool safety.” This event will better tie consumers to PoolSafety.com, the agency’s website. Olympic swimmer Janet Evans will be there.
Much of this current stir has to do with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, federal legislation signed into law in 2007 designed to mandate new safety requirements with pools and spas. We’re specifically speaking about proper drain covers here — pool and spa pumps are so incredibly powerful they can suction and keep a person submerged underwater. The law is named after little 7-year old Virginia who drowned due to a faulty drain cover.
Virginia’s mother, Nancy has been an amazing force in enacting this bill. Therefore she’s been an amazing force in getting out pool safety. While the media event will focus much on drainage compliance, general pool safety topics will be addressed as well as annual report on childhood drowning. While I won’ t flying to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida to be there, I do have access to interviews.
Remember a few posts ago when I looked into my crystal ball and predicted the media would be covering more pool safety topics this summer? I’ll keep my finger on the pulse of this topic and when I find out something more to add, I’ll post.
