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Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act:
On December 19,
2007, the President signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker
Pool and Spa Safety Act, named after the daughter of Nancy
Baker and the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James
Baker. Graeme Baker died in a tragic incident in June 2002
after the suction from a spa drain entrapped her under the
water. This Act was first introduced by Rep. Debbie
Wasserman-Schultz (FL) and was supported by the Baker family
and Safe Kids Worldwide.
There is an annual
average of 283 drowning deaths (2003-2005) and 2,700 emergency
room-treated submersion injuries (2005-2007) involving
children younger than 5 in pools and spas. In addition, from
1997-2007, there were 74 reported incidents associated with
suction entrapment, including 9 deaths and 63 injuries. The
new law is aimed at reducing these deaths and injuries by
making pools safer, securing the environment around them, and
educating consumers and industry on pool safety.
Failure to
comply with Congressionally-enacted law can result in pool
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