According to child advocates, government agencies are dropping the ball on enforcing a new laww that requires drain covers on pool filtration systems. The covers stop children from being caught in the suction of the pool…leaving them disemboweled and sliced open.
Many pools are still not in compliance with the law, despite these horrible dangers. Some children who are caught in the drains can be saved, although they might end up paralyzed. Others will have scars and welts that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Others might actually die.
That’s what happened to Virginia Graeme Baker, the 7 year old granddaughter of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker. She was trapped–stuck in the drain–when her mother was alertered to what was happening. Despite her mother’s best efforts, she was unable to remove her from the drain. It took three adults to finally pry young Virginia off of the drain and get her out of the water. By that time, however, it was too late.
Baker has since embarked on a crusade to raise awareness and save other children from this tragedy.
According to CNN, the statistics for entrapment are grossly underestimated because nobody knew the dangers that might be lurking at the bottom of the pool.
Source: CNN.com
