(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.

Unquestionably, there are certain safety features that add value to any inground pool. For pool buyers who are considering which features to add to their list when shopping for a pool, we’re happy to help get you started. In 2022, there will be a big emphasis on incorporating new technology.

There are more than a few smart safety features that will make your pool and spa a thoroughly more enjoyable experience while at the same time giving you peace of mind. Today, we’re going to discuss the 5 smartest pool safety features you can add to your pool that really add a lot of value.

#1 – Pool Safety Fence

Adding a fence around your pool can help you feel more secure. Installing a pool fence in your backyard might help keep your pool area private from neighbors. People who are self-conscious in their swimsuits or who simply don’t enjoy the idea of their neighbors being able to see them when they are in the water may find this helpful.

If you install a safety fence around your pool, you can have the added reassurance that the pool area in your backyard will be inaccessible without your permission. These added precautions are especially crucial if you have small children or pets that could easily fall into the swimming pool. Aside from being a useful safety feature, it is becoming mandatory throughout most regions of the country to install a pool safety fence.

According to your insurance policy, you may be eligible for a discount if you install a pool fence and may actually be required by your insurance company in some cases. Typically, a bolted gate is required for a pool fence to qualify.

Homeowners can choose from a wide range of fencing alternatives, including wrought iron bars, wood or vinyl panels, and mesh pool fences that are both durable, tough to climb, and semi-transparent, allowing you to have an unobstructed view of your pool while protecting your family.

#2 – Smart Fence & Pool Alarms

Another added level of safety and security is adding a smart pool alarm. Today’s pool monitoring systems are technologically sophisticated and act as a virtual water watcher that continuously scan the pool area for unauthorized entry as well as detect distress in early stages.

One of the best methods of securing the pool area these days incorporates the usage of smart IoT and AI. Folks are becoming increasingly used to using technology like Alexa and Siri, and forward-thinking homeowners are looking for similar devices that will keep their pool & spa secure.

Sai Reddy, Founder/CEO of CamerEye, one of the leading smart pool alarm monitoring systems based on Artificial Intelligence (AI); says “The need for a smarter pool fence is obvious. Quite often, homeowners have no idea when small children or pets are in the pool area.”

This statement holds true with the findings of a recent study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) which analyzed drownings in Arizona, California, and Florida among children under the age of four. Nearly 70 percent of the children were located in the pool despite the fact that they were not expected to be there. Of the incidents analyzed, 46 percent had last been seen inside the home.

“The ability to draw an invisible boundary line around the pool area, and have instant notification when a loved one is in distress is a water safety game-changer that will help mitigate these types of tragedies from occurring,” said Reddy.

Camereye- Proximity Alert System

#3 – Pool Safety Covers

Inground pool safety covers can be fixed to the deck so that they can be put on and removed with ease. Rainwater may safely drain through the cover’s dense mesh fabric, while leaves and other debris are kept dry and simply blown away. In addition, they look great around the pool, and can easily last for over a decade. The value proposition of adding a safety cover pays for itself the very first year.

Drowning is the second most common cause of death in children 1 to 4 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Residential swimming pools account for the vast majority of these instances. A lack of installing a barrier to prevent unsupervised entry to the pool is one of the major contributing factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “most small children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at home.”

When there is no adult supervision, a pool safety cover is an effective tool for keeping children out of the water. Safety covers are composed of a heavy-duty mesh or vinyl and cover the entire pool. Some covers can support the weight of a small SUV.

#4 – Safety Ledges

Pool safety ledges are popular in homes with young children or inexperienced swimmers. A safety ledge is typically an 8-inch-wide region which extends from the shallow end all the way around to the deep end.

A conventional swimming pools deep end typically has only one ladder. If someone is swimming on the opposite side of the deep end and and gets tired or is in distress, a pool safety ledge provides them a place to stand while safely catching their breath. If they need to, they can use the ledge to shimmy back to the shallow end.

#5 – Pool Lighting

Aside from being a wonderful way to extend your pool usage into the evening, pool lighting saves lives. One of the easiest ways to make your swimming pool safer is to make sure that you have effective lighting in your pool and spa. Lighting is sometimes overlooked when discussing safety-related products, yet it’s an important part of the mix.

Providing swimmers the ability to see where they’re going and how far they can swim or dive before they hit the walls and floor is essential. Being able to easily see into the pool to determine when a swimmer is in distress is an absolute must.