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How safe is the pool where your family swims? (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Posted January 29, 2009 by Diana McKeon Charkalis

Even though it's not swim season, I recently found myself staring into the depths of our backyard pool, freaking out about what dangers might lurk below the surface. Was our family's favorite summer hangout actually a deathtrap?

What sparked this wave of angst was a totally disturbing story about how the suction of a pool or hot tub's drain can entrap a child, causing paralysis and disembowelment.

Thankfully, a new federal law requires installation of safer pool drain covers to prevent children from these horrific outcomes. But here's the scary part: Many states have yet to enforce this law and they aren't necessarily closing pools that could be dangerous. That's why parents still need to be super-vigilant now and also plan ahead for summer 2009.

Between 1999 and 2007, there were 74 reports of entrapments in pool drains, causing nine deaths and 63 injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And it was an accident in a residential spa that spearheaded the crusade to get this legislation passed.

In 2002, Virginia Graeme Baker, the granddaughter of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, became caught in a hot tub drain during a school graduation party. Although her mom, Nancy, tried to rescue her, it took the strength of two adult men to overcome the hundreds of pounds of suction force and pry her loose. But it was too late and 7-year-old Graeme died in her mother's arms.

It took five years of lobbying led by this grief-stricken mom and her influential father-in-law for this law to be passed and go into effect last month. It's targeted at the more than 300,000 U.S. public pools and spas found in community centers, hotels, fitness centers, schools and apartment buildings. Because this is optional for existing pools, parents should be especially careful at home.

lan Korn of Safe Kids USA, an advocacy group that helped push for the recent law's passage, says parents should educate their children about the dangers of pool drains and teach them to keep their distance. He suggests:

· Children with long hair should secure it to avoid drain entanglement.

· For new pools or hot tubs, multiple drains or a no-drain circulation system should be installed to prevent entrapment.

· For existing pools with drains, install anti-entrapment drain covers and a safety vacuum release system to automatically release suction and shut down the pump should entrapment occur. For more information about how to do this, check out the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's guidelines.

When visiting public pools, Korn recommends that parents ask if the pool is compliant with the new federal standards. They should also scan their public pools themselves to make sure they are not missing drain covers or have any that are loose, especially in wading pools or hot tubs.

And although this is obvious, he stresses, it can be so easy to forget: Never take your eyes off of children in the pool - even for a moment!  If you're in a group, appoint a designated "water watcher," taking turns with other adults.

For many of us, swim season is months away. But I find myself thinking about how last summer my son and all his friends would dive to the bottom of our pool, perilously close to our pool drain to retrieve coins we tossed in for them. Meanwhile, we moms and dads happily chatted poolside, oblivious to this unrealized risk.

Is our pool drain one of the dangerous ones? I don't know yet. But before the next pool season begins, I'm going to find out. If you have a pool or hot tub or know someone who does, pass this information on. It could save a kid's life.

Your turn: What's your most important safety tip you'd want to pass on to other moms?

More pool and water safety tips:

Inflatable Pool Safety

Poolside Tips Every Parent Should Know

Near-Drowning Teaches Mom and Dad a Lesson