Preventing North Carolina Drowning Accidents: CPSC’s Pool and Spa Drain Cover Recall a Reminder that Entrapment Can Lead to Serious Injuries and Deaths
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recent recall of nearly 1 million pool and spa drain covers is a good reminder to owners to make sure that their pools and spas are safe for swimmers. The recall was issued because the drain covers were manufactured by companies that had incorrectly rated how much flow the products could actually handle. Such inaccuracies could mean that some of the drain covers may still pose entrapment hazards, which can cause drowning accidents.
Swimming accidents that occur because of a defective pool or spa part can be grounds for a Charlotte, North Carolina products liability lawsuit. It is the responsibility of all manufacturers to make sure that their products are safe for use. It is also the responsibility of pool and spa owners to make sure there that there are no hazards that could cause entrapment or North Carolina drowning accidents.
The recalled spa and pool drain covers were made between December 2008 and April 2011 by a number of companies, including Waterway Plastics, Rising Dragon USA, Pentair Water Pool and Spa, which is a North Carolina based company, Hayward Pool Products, Custom Molded Products, Color Match Pool Fittings, AquaStar Pool Products Inc., Lawson Aquatics, and A&A Manufacturing. The drain covers were supposed to meet the safety standards set by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
The pool safety law is supposed to prevent entrapment accidents from happening. When a child or adult gets entrapped in a spa or pool drain, it can be difficult to get free and if the person ends up submerged and stuck underwater, he/she can easily drown. One young girl sustained catastrophic injuries when a swimming pool drain suctioned out part of her intestinal tract a few years ago. Even after Abigail Taylor underwent liver, small bowel and pancreas transplants, she still died from her pool drain entrapment injuries in 2008.
Eight Manufacturers Recall Pool and In-Ground Spa Drain Covers Due to Incorrect Ratings, CPSC, May 26, 2011
Lawson Aquatics Recalls Certain Pool Drain Covers Due to Incorrect Rating; Covers Pose Possible Entrapment Hazard to Swimmers, CPSC, May 26, 2011
Girl Whose Intestines Were Partially Sucked Out by Swimming Pool Drain Dies, Fox News, March 21, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (PDF)
More Blog Posts:
High Point Pool Drowning Accident Claims the Life of Teenager in North Carolina, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, June 22, 2010
Fayetteville, North Carolina Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Teen’s Drowning Accident in Drainage Ditch Can Continue, Says Judge, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, August 18, 2009
North Carolina Premises Liability: Two Recent Child Drowning Accidents in Hotels Claim Lives, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, June 22, 2009
