What is the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act?

Virginia Graeme Baker ActVirginia Graeme Baker was a young girl who died tragically in a hot tub in 2002. Virginia was a twin and the youngest of 5 children, whose grandfather was former Secretary of State James Baker III. She was an avid swimmer and a member of her local community swim and diving team. However, when Virginia was swimming in a hot tub, the powerful force of the hot tub drain pulled her under and she became entrapped. The force was so strong that her mother was unable to free her. It took two men who pulled until the drain cover broke to free her, but it was too late. Although her cause of death was drowning, the true cause was suction entrapment in a faulty drain cover.

Virginia's mother Nancy Baker worked tirelessly as an advocate for pool and spa safety. She, her family, and an organization called Safe Kids Worldwide lobbied to win Congressional support for a law requiring the use of anti-entrapment drain covers and other pool and spa safety devices. A statute that was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida was signed into law by the President in 2007 as the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

To carry out the Act's requirements, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission launched a national public education campaign to raise awareness about entrapment prevention, to improve pool and spa safety and to support compliance nationwide. The campaign is titled Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives.

Today, all pools installed in the U.S. must comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, or be subject to fines and/or closure. SPPRC is well versed in the Act, and regularly consults with organizations on compliance.

Learn more and read the Act at: http://www.poolsafely.gov/pool-spa-safety-act/read/

No Comments Yet.

Leave a comment