Warm summer days are upon us and children are drawn to the backyard swimming pool and spa.  Unfortunately, the risk of childhood drowning is a dangerous element of water fun; and the risk is high.  Drowning is the leading cause of accidental injury-related death for children aged 1 to 4 years with more than half of these drownings occurring in the child’s own home pool and one third occurring at the homes of neighbors, relatives or friends.  In New York State, only traffic accidents cause more accidental injury-related deaths for children 1 to 14 years in age.  Accidental drownings in swimming pools and spas are most commonly caused by the child being entrapped by a drain/suction outlet or by falling into an unsupervised pool.  With hopes of making significant strides to reduce accidental drownings, both New York State and the Federal Government have recently passed important swimming pool and spa safety laws. 

On Dec. 20, 2007, President George Bush signed the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to increase safety in residential and public swimming pools and spas.  The law is named for seven-year-old Virginia Graeme Baker, the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker, who drowned after becoming entrapped by a spa drain in 2002.

So how does a drain/suction outlet entrap a child?  The filter pump system sucks water from the pool or spa by either an underwater drain or suction outlet.  After cleaning the water, the pump re-distributes it back into the pool/spa through filter return lines.  If a child or even an adult swimmer comes too close to an inadequately protected drain or suction outlet their hair or a limb can be sucked into the drain and they can become pinned underwater.  The suction pressure is so intense that even strong swimmers can't escape and would-be rescuers are not able to free them.

New Requirements

According to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, every swimming pool and spa drain cover manufactured, distributed or entered into commerce in the U.S. after Dec. 20, 2008 must conform to the American National Standard ASME A 112.19.8 – 2007 “Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs” published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).  This means that drain covers are to be designed and built specifically to diffuse the filter’s suction pressure at the drain opening.  The goal is to eliminate the danger of drain entrapment. 

Compliance to the Federal ANSI/ASME Performance Standard is mandatory and will be enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as a consumer product safety rule.  To ensure that your pool and spa are safe, have their drain or suction outlets inspected.  How will you know if your drain cover meets the new standard?  Certified Anti-Entrapment Drain Covers are specifically marked with the “ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 2007” approval stamp, a gallon per minute (GPM) rating, a life rating in years, the manufacture’s name and the cover’s model number.  Local pool and spa builders or dealers can replace an old drain cover with the properly compliant safety cover.  If you’re in the process of installing or renovating a swimming pool, discuss drain safety with your builder.

Last Line of Defense

During the time when the swimming pool isn’t being used, a pool alarm is meant to be the last line of defense for an unsupervised pool.  If a child does fall into a pool, time is of the essence for a rescue in order to prevent permanent neurological damage or even death.  Since Dec. 14, 2006, any swimming pool that’s installed, constructed or substantially modified must be equipped with a pool alarm as mandated in the N.Y.S. Title 19 - Uniform Fire Prevention & Building Code (Uniform Code).  The code requires a pool alarm:

• be capable of detecting a child entering the water;
• sound an audible (minimum 85 decibel) alarm within 20 seconds at poolside and at an occupied location on the premises when it detects a child entering the water;
• be capable of detecting entry into the water at any point on the surface of the swimming pool.  If necessary to provide detection capability at every point on the surface of the swimming pool, more than one pool alarm must be installed;
• not be an alarm device which is located on person(s) or which is dependent on device(s) located on person(s) for its proper operation;
• be certified independently by a third party to verify it meets the U.S. National Standard ASTM F2208-2002 “Standard Specification for Pool Alarms” published by ASTM International.

A pool alarm isn’t required only if:

• the pool employs a power safety cover which meets the ASTM F1325 – 2003 “Standard Performance Specification for Safety Covers and Labeling Requirements for All Covers for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs”;
• a hot tub or spa is equipped with a safety cover certified to the same ASTM F1325 Standard.

Meeting Code

Shopping for a pool alarm which complies with the Uniform Code may be confusing.  Alarms currently available for sale that meet code employ one of the two technologies listed below:

1. Wave Action – When a child falls into the pool water a wave is produced.  When the wave reaches the pool alarm a built in mechanism is triggered and the alarm is sounded.  Models utilizing this technology are surface alarms (they float on the pool water) and sub-surface models.  Sub-surface models are either mounted to the ladder rail or sit on the pool decking; a portion of the unit needs to be submerged in the pool water.  Although triggering mechanisms differ among alarm brands, they all rely on a wave in the pool water to trigger the alarm.  Keep in mind that the farther the wave needs to travel the longer it will take for the alarm to trigger.  Odd-shaped pools or larger sized pools may require additional poolside units.  The poolside unit sends instructions to sound the additional in-house alarm via a wireless RF signal.  Both surface and sub-surface alarms operate on battery power and must have a low-battery power indicator to comply with the new law.  Strong winds may cause false alarms.
2. Active Sonar – This alarm system is built into the sides of the pool’s walls and normally is incorporated into the design of the pool during construction.  The system sends acoustic pings into the water.  The pool’s walls, floor and water surface create a box which the pings bounce off creating a “net”.  If the acoustic pings’ travel is interrupted in this “net” the alarm is sounded.  Calm pool water is required for maximum monitoring effectiveness.  This type of system is hard wired to the pool’s electricity source and to a control panel.  It is important your family is aware that this system has a “rough water and a standby mode” and cannot detect a child falling into the pool when these modes are engaged.

Layers of Protection

Typically the pool water must become calm for wave action and active sonar alarms to be effective.  In some instances, the alarm’s sensitivity may have to be adjusted to reduce false alarming due to rough water.  Each manufacturer describes their product’s operation in their owner’s manuals.  There are other types of alarm systems such as a water sensor alarm worn by an individual or infra-red and closed circuit camera systems which monitor the area surrounding the pool.  Although these types of pool alarm systems may offer an additional sense of security, they do not meet the code requirements. 

Education is important in making your backyard pool and spa safe for your family.  The pool and spa industry recommends a “layers of protection” strategy consisting of active adult supervision, advanced preparation, and protecting the pool/spa area.  A pool safety education video can be found at www.dos.state.ny.us/code/pools.htm#alarms along with the State Swimming Pool Rules and Regulations.  Also, it’s important to keep abreast of your local municipality’s local code and zoning laws because they may be more restrictive than the Uniform Code’s requirements.  A multifaceted approach to safeguard your pool and spa will help make this summer season a fun and safe time for all.