Anti-entrapment drain covers are raised covers that prevent dangerous suction from your pool’s drain. They don’t prevent your pool’s drain from working any better, but they do prevent you and young swimmers from getting trapped at the bottom of the pool because of the suction. In 2008, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was put in place to require commercial pools and spas to have anti-entrapment pool drain covers. The law was created shortly after the 7-year-old granddaughter of the former Secretary of State James A. Baker III drowned from being entrapped by a spa’s mighty suction.
Although the law only applies to commercial pools and spas, it’s smart to make sure your backyard swimming pool is fitted with anti-entrapment pool drain covers as well. These pool drain covers are rounded drain covers that prevent the entire drain from being covered and causing dangerous suction. If your pool’s drain cover is flat, your pool is unnecessarily unsafe.
To prevent drowning accidents from faulty or old pool drain covers, ask your pool professional to check if your pool drain covers are anti-entrapment and have them replace hazardous flat or broken drain covers. It’s also important to educate young swimmers about the dangers of pool drains and to instruct them to stay away from drains.