“…On average 566 people are hospitalized in Florida each year for injuries suffered from near drowning… Costs of a near drowning-related hospital stay range from $10,000 for standard 2-day treatment to $4 million in case of brain damage…”
“…Federal law requires public pools and hot tubs to be equipped with an anti-entrapment drain cover. A safety vacuum release system is required for those pools or hot tubs with a single main drain…”
 “…Keep pools clean and clear so that swimmers can be seen if they are in trouble in the water. This can prevent drownings. Also clean and clear water is a sign of disease free water. ..”
According to the Florida Department of Health, studies from 2001-2005 suggest that the state averages 465 deaths per year from unintentional drowning. Similar studies suggest that Florida ranks in the United States in drowning deaths for young children. A more recent statistic points that in 2008 71% Florida’s drowning deaths involved children ages 0-4. The federal and state laws offer some pool regulations through the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007, named after a 7-year-old who died after the suction of a drain entrapped her underwater. Entrapment occurs when a pool’s filtration system sucks a child under water.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission enforces the law, and public places such as health clubs and hotels must comply or risk an immediate closure of the pool area. So the first step to pool safety is to make sure the pool drain complies with the law and has a safety vacuum release.
In addition to preventing the dangers from faulty drains there are other steps to make pools safer. Many pools with cloudy water may contain harmful bacteria. Believe it or not many deaths and injuries come from bacteria in pools and spas. Legionnaires disease is a disease that can kill and can be acquired from just sitting next to a dirty hot tub or spa. In a recent Orlando case a visitor from England died when exposed to Legionella bacteria and acquired Legionnaires disease sitting poolside next to a hotel spa next to the pool. If the hot tub is dirty or murky, stay away and contact the pool operator and the County Health Department. Your life may depend on it.
