Spa and Pool Suction Entrapment Accidents

Are your spa and pool drains up to the newest safety standards? If not, we can help. Adams Pool Specialties wants you to know the dangers of pool and spa suction entrapment. Not only can we help to educate our community about such dangers, we will work with you, providing and installing anti‑entrapment pool drains and other safety equipment that will protect the lives of you and your loved ones. Contact us today to bring your pool and spa up to standard.

There is potential danger lurking at the bottom of older residential and public pools. Missing or broken pool and spa drain covers can mean the difference between life and death. Six year old Abigale Taylor endured 16 surgeries and three organ transplants after a swimming pool drain disemboweled her. Unfortunately, Abigale lost her life. Abigale is one of many children and even adults who have suffered horrible injuries or death due to suction entrapment accidents.

According to Safe Kids USA, 33 children died from suction drains between 1985 and 2004. One hundred more children were injured. Suction entrapment occurs when a swimmer, usually a small child, is trapped by the suction forces created by the water rushing out of the drain at the bottom of the pool. In 2004, the death of Virginia Graeme Baker, former Secretary of State’s granddaughter, brought the dangers of pool suction entrapment to light in the Federal arena. Her drowning while being held at the bottom of a hot tub has led to new Federal standards. On December 19, 2008 the new US Federal Law, Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, went into effect. Read a summary of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

Four Forms of Suction Entrapment:

According to an analysis of all reported suction entrapment cases reported to U.S. CPSC

• Body or Torso Entrapment
  • Large portion of body is trapped on outlet.
  • Easily backed up with dual outlets, SVRS, and gravity drainage.
  
  
  
• Limb Entrapment
  • Happens within a fraction of a second.
  • Entrapped victims usually must be surgically removed even after vacuum is released.
  • Can happen even when the pump is off.
  • Backups will not prevent limb entrapment.
  
  
  
• Disembowelment (Evisceration)
  • Happens within a fraction of a second.
  • Intestines are hammered into the drain at speeds that exceed backup standards (3‑4 seconds)
  • As victims try to pull away, they would be immediately pulled back in by a force that is great enough to vaporize water.
  • Backups will not prevent evisceration.
  • Proper cover must be in place to avoid suction entrapment.
  
  
  
• Mechanical
  • Jewelry, clothing, and accessories become trapped in outlet.
  • There is no back up for mechanical suction entrapment.

Eliminate the Risk of Pool Drain Suction Entrapment

Spa and pool suction entrapment accidents can be completely eliminated. All one need to ensure to reduce risks of accidents is maintain anti‑entrapment safety standards.

Existing Pools and Spas: Anti‑entrapment pool drain covers must be fitted in existing pool and spas. In addition to a compliant drain cover, each pool or spa with a single main drain, other than a blockable drain, shall be equipped with one or more of the following safety options:

• safety vacuum release system (SVRS)
• suction limiting vent system
• gravity drainage system
• automatic pump shut‑off system
• drain disablement

Newly Built Pools and Spas: Each pool and spa built more than one year after the enactment of the state statute must employ one of the following:

• The installation of more than one safety pool or spa drain per suction system
• The installation of one or more unblockable drains
• No drains at all.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff recommends that to eliminate and not just mitigate pool drain entrapment hazard s, pool owners should disable old drains or build new pools without any drains and use gutters, overflows and/or skimmers to provide water to the pump.

Public Safety Education Information: The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires the CPSC to organize public education programs on methods to prevent drowning and entrapment in pools and spas. If you have questions about the requirements associated with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, public education details contact the CPSC directly at www.cpsc.gov.