People understand the inherent dangers of drowning in pools and spas, but many might have never heard of another equally lethal hazard.
Suction entrapment is what occurs when a swimmer’s bathing suit, hair, jewelry, limbs or torso gets attached to parts of a broken water circulation system. Read on to learn how you can better avoid this summer danger.
Visually inspect all pools and spas
Look for missing covers to drains and ports on the bottom and sides of the walls. Make sure that long hair is in a topknot or bathing cap before entering the water. Older pools are more likely to be lacking the necessary safety features that prevent suction entrapment.
Features like safety vacuum release systems (SVRS) and automatic pump shut-offs should be installed on older models to bring them more in line with today’s requirements.
Check the water clarity
The water should be clear enough to see straight through to the bottom in the deep end. That’s usually where the main drain is. That area is also a focus of children, who like to try diving down to touch the drain. Teach them to stay away from drains and other parts of the water circulation system and always supervise kids around any water.
Property owners liable for negligence
Owners of public and private pools and spas have the duty to maintain their premises in a safe manner so that no one gets injured or killed as a result of their negligence. If they neglect to fix broken drains or allow bacteria to proliferate in the water and make swimmers and bathers ill, they can be held accountable in a court of law for any damages and losses that arise.