Los Angeles County Failing to Comply With Federal Pool Safety Law, Today Show Reports

Los Angeles County Failing to Comply With Federal Pool Safety Law, Today Show Reports

Ninety Percent of Public Pools Not Safe, Report Finds

WASHINGTON, July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than six months after Pool Safety Council called out Los Angeles County officials for putting area swimmers at risk, NBC's Today Show reported today that less than 10 percent of public swimming pools in Los Angeles County are compliant with a mandatory federal pool safety law.

The findings were part of a broader story about the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, a federal law that requires public pools install new drain covers and anti-entrapment devices to prevent drain entrapment. The Today Show found many regions of the country had poor compliance rates, but Los Angeles County had far fewer compliant pools than any other investigated region in the country.

The Today Show also interviewed Inez Tenenbaum, chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency tasked with enforcing the Pool and Spa Safety Act. "Compliance is mandatory," Tenenbaum said. "There is no grace period. [All public pools] have to comply with this law now." Tenenbaum stressed that pools that fail to comply with the law should close down. "I am prepared to tell the Attorneys General that, and the state agencies," Tenenbaum said.

Pool Safety Council (PSC), America's authority on drain entrapment prevention and a strong proponent of the Pool and Spa Safety Act, had identified Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for failing to meet the federal requirements of the law.

"The Today Show piece on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was the latest proof that Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials are not taking compliance with the life-saving Pool and Spa Safety Act seriously," PSC spokesman John Procter said. "We hope this embarrassing report finally prompts them to get their county in order and enforce the Pool and Spa Safety Act as it is written."

The Pool and Spa Safety Act went into effect late last year and requires public pools install layers of protection to prevent drain entrapment, which occurs when a swimmer becomes trapped by the powerful suction force of a drain. All public pools must install approved safety drain covers, while single drain public pools must also install an anti-entrapment device, such as a Safety Vacuum Release System.

PSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of child drowning nationwide. Please visit our website at www.poolsafetycouncil.org for additional information, and the Today Show segment can be viewed here: http://www.poolsafetycouncil.org/news_todayshow.html.

   CONTACT: John Procter   Phone: (800) 970-8420   www.poolsafetycouncil.org  

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Source: Pool Safety Council

CONTACT: John Procter, +1-800-970-8420, for Pool Safety Council

Web Site: http://www.poolsafetycouncil.org/

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