Minnesota saw it’s own tragic case of what happens when a child gets sucked into a pool drain with the tragedy that killed 6-year-old Abigail Taylor. The Minnesota legislature quickly looked to the issue and passed legislation requiring daily physical inspections of drain covers and grates in all but residential pools and calls for mandatory drainage systems designed to prevent suction from blockage.
This week the rest of the country also saw more protections as The Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush. All public pools and spas must have ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 compliant drain covers installed and a second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is only a single main drain. Year-round pools had to be in compliance by December 19, 2008. Seasonal public pools and spas that are currently closed must be in compliance on the day that they reopen.
For more information about the Pool and Spa Safety Act, how to comply, and which companies have been certified to manufacturer drain covers and safety vacuum release systems, please log on to: www.cpsc.gov/whatsnew.html#pool.
A founding partner with Bradshaw & Bryant, Mike Bryant has always fought to find justice for his clients—knowing that legal troubles, both personal injury and criminal, can be devastating for a family. Voted a Top 40 Personal Injury "Super Lawyer" multiple years, Mr. Bryant has also been voted one of the Top 100 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" four times.
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