(Alexandria, Va.) – PHTA announces the support of the VGB Pool & Spa Safety Reauthorization Act of 2022, which was introduced in the US. Senate and House of Representatives this week. S. 4296 and H.R. 7787 seek to reauthorize and update 2008 legislation requiring every public pool in the US to install safe drain covers that prevent suction entrapment. The act allocates funding for grants that can be used for swim lessons, enforcing pool and spa safety laws, as well as educating communities about drowning and entrapment dangers. The legislation also expands program eligibility to non-profit organizations and Indian Tribes. If passed, the law would authorize $5 million per year from 2022 to 2027 for use in locations that have enacted a qualifying minimum swimming pool and spa safety laws such as the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and ANSI/APSP/ICC-17 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies.

U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), John Carter (TX-31), Colin Allred (TX-32), and Michael Burgess (TX-26) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Roy Blunt (MO) introduced the bipartisan, bicameralVirginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety (VGB) Reauthorization Act (H.R.7877 / S.4296) to help decrease drownings in pools and spas.

“PHTA has always been a vocal leader in advocating for safe aquatic environments—they are absolutely critical to industry.” said Sabeena Hickman, PHTA president and CEO. “Not only does this legislation reiterate the requirement for safe and compliant drain covers, it incentivizes state, local, and Tribal jurisdictions to implement and enforce swimming pool and spa safety standards which has been proven to save lives.”  

PHTA encourages members and industry advocates to support the reauthorization through social media using #PassVGB and #CurbDrownings and by contacting their representative with your support of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act.

PHTA-16 and VGBA

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) announced recently that it is currently developing the PHTA-16, with the PHTA-16 Standard Writing Committee (SWC) to revise the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFA) for Use in Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs, the Drain Cover Standard referenced in the VGBA. The standard was designated the current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Standard last year. Proposed revisions will be submitted to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). After ANSI approval, the revised standard will be submitted to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 

PHTA joins VGBA reauthorization supporters to help prevent drownings and near-drownings in pools and spas by increasing the layers of protection, extending grant program eligibility, and providing funds for education about drowning and entrapment dangers, as well as ensuring that the infrastructure and resources reflect the seriousness of this public health issue.

For more information, contact PHTA Vice President, Government Relations, Standards & Codes, Justin Wiley, jwiley@phta.org.

Pool safety equipment such as physical barriers and alarm systems can help prevent unsupervised access to the swimming pool. Adding safety equipment to your pool is also a smart way to protect your family and loved ones. If you own a swimming pool, learning about the best pool safety equipment is probably a good idea. We’re happy to educate you and recommend which pool safety equipment you should always keep around your pool in case a leisurely swim session turns into an emergency.

Pool Safety Equipment Categories

Recommended pool safety products by category:

• Pool Safety Fences
• Safety Drain Covers
• Pool Alarms
• Pool Safety Covers
• Safety Accessories
• Pool Safety Signs
• Pool Safety Ladders

Pool Safety Fences

Your swimming pool can be a beautiful location for relaxation and enjoyment, but you must also think about the safety of your family members. A pool safety fence, for example, is a wonderful way to secure your pool and a smart pool safety features you can add.

Choosing the best pool fence for your swimming pool area necessitates serious thought. We’ve highlighted and recommended a variety of pool safety fences to help you select the correct pool barrier.

Recommended Pool Safety Fences

PROTECT-A-POOL Fencing System

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Safety Drain Covers

VGB-approved pool drain covers replace current pool drain covers to keep swimmers from becoming entangled in the suction of the drain. A pool safety drain cover’s design allows more water to flow through the cover, reducing the chance of a swimmer becoming trapped by severe suction. The VGB pool and spa safety act requires the use of safety drain covers on all pool and spa installations. Here are our list of recommended products.

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Pool Alarms

An unmonitored body of water presents a safety hazard around the home. Installing a pool alarm is a smart way to protect your loved ones. There are a variety of different pool alarms on the market that provide distress detection, active monitoring and alerts. Knowing which is the best pool alarm system to purchase can make all the difference.

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Pool Safety Covers

Pool safety covers prevent unwanted entry into the pool and help prevent accidental drownings. This is in addition to their role of protecting the pool from debris and the elements. There are a variety of safety covers on the market and we’ll take a look at some of the best ones available.

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Safety Accessories

In addition to a pool safety cover and a pool alarm, there are a wide variety of safety accessories to ensure that your swimming pool remains a safety area for family and guests. When evaluating which pool safety equipment to purchase for your backyard, you have your pick of products to choose from. Identifying which pool safety accessories can help save a life in an emergency is vital.

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Pool Safety Signs

Pool safety signs help keep guests aware of the rules and safety conditions. Displaying a pool safety sign prominently ensures that everyone is aware of acceptable behavior and best practices around the swimming pool. Here’s a recommendation of some signs to display around your own pool to ensure better safety practices in your backyard.

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Pool Safety Ladders

A good pool safety ladder is essential for your swimming pool. According to HoneySweetHome, a leading pool ladder related blog, installing the proper pool ladder can help prevent injuries and damage to your pool walls. Here are our top 3 picks for pool safety ladders.

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What is Pool Safety Equipment?

Anything that can be used to prevent or aid in the case of drowning is considered pool safety equipment. This might range from the very basic to the really necessary.

Common Safety Equipment Usage

• Preventing access to the swimming pool area.
• Sounding an alarm when a person or pet enters the water
• Rescuing someone in the water who is in distress

Pool safety equipment is an important part of pool ownership and assists in the prevention of drowning. An unprotected body of water presents an immediate danger which is why safeguarding the pool remains such a top priority. Statistics in the U.S. show that each year nearly 900 children and adolescents die from unintentional drowning.

• More children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects.
• For children ages 1–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.
• 3,960* fatal unintentional drownings, including boating-related drowning—that is an average of 11 drowning deaths per day.
• 8,080^† nonfatal drownings—that is an average of 22 nonfatal drownings per day.
  
  (Statistics provided by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

Why Do You Need Pool Safety Equipment?

Having the right pool safety equipment available is an absolutely essential function of pool ownership. Accessories such as life rings, pool safety fences, pool covers and a variety of other water safety equipment can make all the difference when a swimmer is in distress.

It’s a fact that over 87% of drowning fatalities happen in swimming pools or hot tubs for children younger than 5. Most instances of drownings happen in swimming pools that are owned the homeowner or a neighbor. Children 5 to 17 years old are the most likely percentage to drowin in a swimming pool, pond, or lake. Making sure those pieces of safety equipment are available in case of an emergency can help save a life.

We hope that by now you have a better idea of what pool safety equipment is, why it’s necessary, and what some of the best options available are.

Although swimming pools are excellent sources of entertainment, these spectacular features require regular maintenance. Maintaining a pool helps you attain crystal clear pool water. Indisputably, commercial or public pools require more maintenance due to frequent usage. Thus, all public pool owners should ensure their pool is safe and clean for use. As a swimmer, you have to ensure that the pool is safe for use. You can do this by checking when last the pool got inspected.

Generally, local authorities close thousands of pools that don’t meet all safety and health regulations every year. Based on previous statistics, more than 75% of public pools violated one or two safety measures issued by the state. Therefore, it is essential to keep your pool in good shape. Request for frequent inspections by your local authorities before the situation gets out of hand.

Cryptosporidium

Over the years, swimming pools have become a major cause of diseases. Swimming pools often contain a harmful parasite called cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium can survive in swimming pools even in the presence of chlorine. Luckily, there are specific techniques you can incorporate to get rid of this harmful parasite in your pool.

Removal of Cryptosporidium

One of the best ways to removing cryptosporidium is to foster maximum filtration. Nevertheless, note that you cannot get rid of these harmful parasites in one filtration. It would be best if you kept passing the pool water through the filter severally.

Also, as you do this, consider closing the pool until you filter all the water present in the pool. Ultraviolet pool sanitation systems are usually ideal in removing these harmful parasites. Conducting a pool shock also goes a long way in removing cryptosporidium.

Outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidium is the pathogen responsible for causing cryptosporidiosis. This harmful parasite is the leading cause of diarrhea connected to swimming pools. Although you can get cryptosporidiosis in other settings like farms, swimming in infected pools is common.

Preventing cryptosporidiosis

As public pool owners, it is essential to inform swimmers to avoid swimming if they have diarrhea. Also, swimmers should avoid swimming if they had diarrhea in the last 48 hours. Failure to do this would only lead to an increase in cryptosporidium in your pool. Advise them to come back when their symptoms stop for the safety of everyone.

Other safety measures you need to observe in the pool include:

• Advise parents to take their children to the toilet before they start swimming. Also, parents should consider giving their children frequent toilet breaks to prevent them from contaminating the pool.
• For small children, parents should use swimming diapers to prevent fecal leakages into the pool. Additionally, parents should wash their hands after changing the baby’s diapers. They should also dispose of their baby’s diapers appropriately.
• As a public pool owner, it would be best to formulate a strategy for handling fecal accidents that occur in your swimming pool.

Note that cryptosporidium is more common in shallow pools. Thus, ensure you observe maximum hygiene if you have a shallow pool. You can also reduce the risk of contamination by making sure your pool contractor observes all pool construction guidelines.

Water Main Contimation

Water companies report that at times, cryptosporidium may get into the water without their knowledge. Therefore, they advise boiling water before use or using an effective disinfectant agent to sanitize the water. If you are a pool owner, use the right sanitizing chemicals to kill all microorganisms in the pool water. Nevertheless, ensure you get advice from your water supplier on how to sanitize your pool water.

According to a previous survey done in 2013, the most cryptosporidium-contaminated swimming pools in Arizona, New York, and California were baby pools. The local authorities of the respective areas ordered the closure of these swimming pools. The most common problems were inaccurate water chemistry, less safety equipment, and low chlorine levels when inspecting these swimming pools. Note that low chlorine levels and high pH are usually connected. So, your pool might be having low chlorine levels due to high pH. A good percentage of pools violated pool safety regulations. Even worse, some of these violations were not minor.

Associate Director for Healthy Water, Michael Beach, says that these results are incredibly concerning. He says that all pool professionals should do their best to protect the public. On the flip side, swimmers should ensure the pool receives regular pool inspections from time to time.

The bottom line

It is sad to know that many public pools are not passing health inspections. As a result, most public pools are not safe for swimmers. All pool owners should ensure their pools undergo a frequent pool inspection. This way, they’ll keep their pool in good condition. Swimmers, on the other hand, should confirm whether the public pool is free from contaminants. Additionally, they should practice maximum hygiene while swimming in the pool.