This is the quality of reporting that America has become much too comfortable with. I know of this claim, it was a terribe occurrence and there was plenty of blame to go around. Some of it not where it should have been directed. There were some who were not to blzme who bore responsibility they should not have. But what does the law say? How much will it cost the operators of the pools? What’s involved with the process? Not reporting such basic items gives explanation as to why bad laws are passed and why good laws are unfairly criticized. Because noboody knows what is in the law, including many of the people who voted for or against it.
Again, I ask, does anybody know what the law says? This all reminds me of our Attorney General and President lambasting the Arizona Immigration law without ever having read it. Please somebody tell me what’s in the law. This terrible article tells me nothing of it as all the posters have not also. How can anybody tell me how badly this needs to be enforced when nobody knows what it does?
Another politically motivated knee jerk reaction. The case cited involved a yound girl who was SITTING ON THE BOTTOM OF A HOT TUB, not in a swimming pool; Big distinction. Pool owners should not be required to incur the costs of this useless proposal.
I concur that better safety is needed for hot-tub drains because of the exposure. But let’s keep things in perspective. Nobody sits on the bottom of a swimming pool and I know of no such similar accident in a pool. As for the hot tub, where were the girls parents? There is an agee limit on most hot tubs and I doubt a 7 year old had any business being in one.
I have heard of claims where people have been disemboweled by sittting on the bottom of an actual swimming pool, so at some level this exposure needed to be addressed, but the article says nothing about the regulation or cost of compliance or who is ultimately responsible. A little extra effort in reporting would certainly be appreciated.
I believe this law NEEDS to be passed! There have been more than one case of children drowning in pools because the pool drain was not covered. There are smaller “kiddy pools” that are for toddlers and meant for wading. There have been instances where childen sitting/playing in the pool have been entrapped in the pool drain and have had their intestines literally sucked out of them from the force of the drain. Public pools need to be safe for our children and the pool owners need to take every precaution possible to prevent any tragedies.
Ambo Chaser – I meant to say the law needs enforced, not passed. Regardless, my posting was in response to Reed who didn’t seem to think it important. My point was protecting children. Don’t get your panties all in a bunch…….geesh!
first of all, this was talking about a hot tub. like a previous post, where was the adult/parent? why don’t these adults realize that children need to be a certain age? even these in most community pools and parks state kids have to be a certain age, but yet, it’s not enforced by the local establishment. there are risks signs posted but how many folks actually read and heed them?
but listen, we don’t want anyone hurt for negligence. but should they not have these already in the pools? would not the industry itself do so, to prevent lawsuits? it is an easy fix.
Dave – The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act is meant to:
1. Enhance the safety of public and private pools and spas.
2. Encourage the use of layers of protection.
3.Reduce child drownings in pools and spas (nearly 300 each year involving children younger than five).
3. Reduce the number of suction entrapment incidents, injuries and deaths
Educate the public on the importance of constant supervision of children in and around water.
Thanks Lucy. This is a start. This is what the law is “meant” to do, but exeperience has taught us all what a bill is “meant” to do and what it actually does can be two different things. What I would like to know is what the bill requires pool owners to do. The article is absent here.
Never had anyone buy an E&S swimming pool policy have you dave? The Virginia Graeme Baker act requires:
1. covered drains to protect against suction from the top.
2. fenced pool with self latching gate that would stop a child from entering unsupervised (vague language in the law)
3. posted depths
4. rules posted and life safety equipment available at poolside
The last 3 items are only required if the state wants to qualify for a grant…so it’s basically like the 21 to drink and seat belt laws…everyone enacts it because they don’t want to miss out on the pork barrell.
Item 1) Covered Drains. This is a no-brainer, the major cause of these kind of accidents. I thought this was already part of law. Probably is in a lot of states.
Items 3&4) Post depths and safety rules. Common sense and minimal costs. Why not.
Item 2) Fenced pool to prevent unsupervised children from getting to a pool. Clearly overkill. Where’s the parents? Parents who don’t supervise small children at a pool or hot tub should not be allowed near a pool or hot tub or for that matter allowed to have children.
It’s for the entire pool area, by the way. i think it’s not a bad investment personally. You’re not just protecting the Virginia Bakers of the world (debatable importance as you say, there is a fair level of responsibility the parents have to accept there), you’re also protecting yourself from liability when idiot teenagers sneak into your pool at night and drown or injure themselves.
This is the quality of reporting that America has become much too comfortable with. I know of this claim, it was a terribe occurrence and there was plenty of blame to go around. Some of it not where it should have been directed. There were some who were not to blzme who bore responsibility they should not have. But what does the law say? How much will it cost the operators of the pools? What’s involved with the process? Not reporting such basic items gives explanation as to why bad laws are passed and why good laws are unfairly criticized. Because noboody knows what is in the law, including many of the people who voted for or against it.
Again, I ask, does anybody know what the law says? This all reminds me of our Attorney General and President lambasting the Arizona Immigration law without ever having read it. Please somebody tell me what’s in the law. This terrible article tells me nothing of it as all the posters have not also. How can anybody tell me how badly this needs to be enforced when nobody knows what it does?
Another politically motivated knee jerk reaction. The case cited involved a yound girl who was SITTING ON THE BOTTOM OF A HOT TUB, not in a swimming pool; Big distinction. Pool owners should not be required to incur the costs of this useless proposal.
I concur that better safety is needed for hot-tub drains because of the exposure. But let’s keep things in perspective. Nobody sits on the bottom of a swimming pool and I know of no such similar accident in a pool. As for the hot tub, where were the girls parents? There is an agee limit on most hot tubs and I doubt a 7 year old had any business being in one.
I have heard of claims where people have been disemboweled by sittting on the bottom of an actual swimming pool, so at some level this exposure needed to be addressed, but the article says nothing about the regulation or cost of compliance or who is ultimately responsible. A little extra effort in reporting would certainly be appreciated.
I believe this law NEEDS to be passed! There have been more than one case of children drowning in pools because the pool drain was not covered. There are smaller “kiddy pools” that are for toddlers and meant for wading. There have been instances where childen sitting/playing in the pool have been entrapped in the pool drain and have had their intestines literally sucked out of them from the force of the drain. Public pools need to be safe for our children and the pool owners need to take every precaution possible to prevent any tragedies.
[sigh]…
Maybe the quality of reporting is suffering in direct proportion with the acuity of the readers.
Lucy, there is no law to pass. The article is discussing the enforcement of an already existing federal law.
Ambo Chaser – I meant to say the law needs enforced, not passed. Regardless, my posting was in response to Reed who didn’t seem to think it important. My point was protecting children. Don’t get your panties all in a bunch…….geesh!
Why can’t the grates be installed at these pools? You would think because it is a safety issue, they’d be willing to do it.
No matter how safe you make things, sadly someone is going to die. Maybe that’s their fate.
first of all, this was talking about a hot tub. like a previous post, where was the adult/parent? why don’t these adults realize that children need to be a certain age? even these in most community pools and parks state kids have to be a certain age, but yet, it’s not enforced by the local establishment. there are risks signs posted but how many folks actually read and heed them?
but listen, we don’t want anyone hurt for negligence. but should they not have these already in the pools? would not the industry itself do so, to prevent lawsuits? it is an easy fix.
Dave – The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act is meant to:
1. Enhance the safety of public and private pools and spas.
2. Encourage the use of layers of protection.
3.Reduce child drownings in pools and spas (nearly 300 each year involving children younger than five).
3. Reduce the number of suction entrapment incidents, injuries and deaths
Educate the public on the importance of constant supervision of children in and around water.
Taken from http://www.poolsafety.gov/
Thanks Lucy. This is a start. This is what the law is “meant” to do, but exeperience has taught us all what a bill is “meant” to do and what it actually does can be two different things. What I would like to know is what the bill requires pool owners to do. The article is absent here.
Never had anyone buy an E&S swimming pool policy have you dave? The Virginia Graeme Baker act requires:
1. covered drains to protect against suction from the top.
2. fenced pool with self latching gate that would stop a child from entering unsupervised (vague language in the law)
3. posted depths
4. rules posted and life safety equipment available at poolside
The last 3 items are only required if the state wants to qualify for a grant…so it’s basically like the 21 to drink and seat belt laws…everyone enacts it because they don’t want to miss out on the pork barrell.
By the way – the only states that haven’t fully enacted the law are SC, NC, GA, MS, FL & AL.
George, thanks for the response.
Item 1) Covered Drains. This is a no-brainer, the major cause of these kind of accidents. I thought this was already part of law. Probably is in a lot of states.
Items 3&4) Post depths and safety rules. Common sense and minimal costs. Why not.
Item 2) Fenced pool to prevent unsupervised children from getting to a pool. Clearly overkill. Where’s the parents? Parents who don’t supervise small children at a pool or hot tub should not be allowed near a pool or hot tub or for that matter allowed to have children.
It’s for the entire pool area, by the way. i think it’s not a bad investment personally. You’re not just protecting the Virginia Bakers of the world (debatable importance as you say, there is a fair level of responsibility the parents have to accept there), you’re also protecting yourself from liability when idiot teenagers sneak into your pool at night and drown or injure themselves.