Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day!!

A long weekend and celebrations should never end in tragedy, take a minute to remember these tips from the great people at "Safe Kids USA" before heading out for your festivities or family fun today.
http://www.safekids.org/have-a-safe-memorial-day-week.html


If you plan to be at the pool or on the beach over the holiday weekend, check out our water safety page for drowning prevention tips, and make sure to read: "Five Truths About Children Who Drown."
If you are planning a pool party, make sure to always have an adult serve as a water watcher. Print out the Water Watcher card.


Before you put the burgers on the grill, follow a few simple tips to avoid grilling injuries.
Make sure to also visit our fire, burn and scald prevention page for more tips.





Before letting your kids out the door to go play with friends, siblings and cousins, remind them about how to stay safe around traffic, on the playground and on their bikes.
Make sure to check out our sports and recreation safety tips, our pedestrian and driver safety tips for summer and our falls prevention tips.





Just another reminder to NEVER leave your child alone in a car even for a second. If you see someone's child or pet left alone in a car, call 911 immediately!

For related safety tip on kids in around cars, visit: "Car Seats, Boosters and Seat Belt Safety."


Thank you to Safe Kids for the above information on keeping our kids safe, happy and back home again after your holiday fun.

Leslie RN (ernursescare)

What is a SVRS? and why do I need it?

Install an SVRS in your pool or spa for safety.
(from SafeKids Water Safety)
When a swimmer becomes stuck to a drain or suction outlet in a swimming
pool, spa, wading pool, or hot tub, the force of the circulation system can be
tremendous.
This suction force will not allow a person to free themselves, no matter how
strong a swimmer they may be. It is extremely difficult for onlookers to break
this suction by lifting the person off the drain — to do so, you would have to
be able to lift more than 500 pounds. Even several people working together
may not be able to accomplish this. This “suction entrapment” will hold the
bather in its grip until the vacuum is broken. A person held underwater in this
manner can suffer severe body or limb injury, or even death.

What is an SVRS?
A Safety Vacuum Release System — or SVRS for short — is an automatic suction
force release system. When a drain becomes blocked, the SVRS provides a rapid
vacuum release. This quickly frees anyone whose body or limb is trapped on the
drain.
An SVRS works whether or not there is a cover on the drain, and does not interfere
with the pump function. Once installed, an SVRS requires little or no maintenance.

How does a mechanical SVRS prevent entrapment?
A spring loaded piston located in the SVRS unit forms a seal to prevent air entering
the suction system during normal operation. Should a sudden rise in vacuum occur
due to an entrapment event, the piston is forced open and the air seal is broken.
Under this condition, outside air is allowed to enter the suction side of the pump
causing the pump to lose prime, thereby releasing the vacuum.

How is an SVRS installed?
A mechanical SVRS unit is easily installed, adjusted and tested with standard tools
and supplies. The SVRS unit is mounted vertically, above or off a tee installed in the
main drain suction line close to the circulation pump. Since the SVRS is an air
passageway only, the unit does not convey water, and therefore can be installed on
small or large pipe sizes. Most installations can be completed in less than 30 minutes.
An electrical SVRS unit may also be used and is installed by a licensed electrician.

I have multiple drains in my pool — do I still need an SVRS?
Having multiple drains is no assurance that someone will not become entrapped
by the suction force on one of the drains. One or more of the drain lines can become
clogged or completely obstructed by leaves, debris, towels, toys, etc. However,
the pool/spa system will appear to be functioning normally, as there is still one
functioning drain.
An SVRS provides a quick release of a person’s body or limb trapped on a drain.

What features should I look for in an SVRS?
• Easy to install (within 30 minutes). It is recommended to have a pool professional
install the SVRS.
• Self-monitoring, and low maintenance.
• Covered by a warranty of more than one year.
• Won’t damage your pump when activated.
• Meets all requirements of the International Code Council — both the
International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC).
• Meets or exceeds all the ANSI/ASME performance standards for safety vacuum
release systems.
• Constructed of non-corroding parts to ensure long life and superior performance.
Vac-AlertTM Model VA-2000 SVRS, with cutaway
showing the interior. Pictures can be found here http://www.usa.safekids.org/water/documents/SVRS.pdf


How can I learn more?
Contact Safe Kids Worldwide at
202-662-0600, or http://www.safekids.org/.

Stay safe
~~~Leslie~~~

Pool and Safety Act

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007. It was enacted to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas. The law became effective on December 19, 2008.The VGB Act established a federal swimming pool and spa drain cover standard to ensure pools are equipped with the proper devices. Under the law, all public pools and spas must have ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 compliant drain covers installed and a second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is only a single main drain (other than an unblockable drain) or multiple main drains less than 3 feet apart.

The CPSC is focusing on the pools and spas that pose the greatest risk of entrapment (especially those with single main drain systems and flat drain grates):Public Wading pools Kiddie pools In ground spas.

Here are some ways to help prevent drownings:

Supervise your children at all times

Learn how to swim and teach your children how

Learn CPR

Watch out for drains and suction outlets

Create barriers around your pool or spa

Install a telephone near your pool along with door alarms and pool covers

Each year many American families encounter pool tragedies – drowning and submersion incidents. These tragedies are preventable.In May 2009 the Commission released a report related to pool and spa submersion incidents involving children under 5.

Each year there are nearly 300 reported drownings involving children younger than five years old.

Each year there are about 3,000 emergency room-treated submersion injuries to children younger than five years old.

In addition, there have been 83 reported entrapment incidents reported to the CPSC from 1999 through 2008. Among these are eleven fatality reports, including the accident that ended Virginia Graeme Baker's life in 2002.CPSC staff began investigating reported incidents of pool/spa suction entrapment in the 1970s. Figures from 1999 through 2008 include:83 reported entrapments 11 fatality reports (7 residential, 4 public) 69 injury reports (38 residential, 21 public, 10 unknown location) 3 no injury reports (residential)

Types of entrapment:

Hair

Body

Limb

Evisceration/disembowelment

Mechanical: Jewelry, bathing suits

For more information on this very important Act http://www.poolsafety.gov/vgb.html

Another wonderful resource http://www.usa.safekids.org/water/index.html great info about water safety.

More water safety info to blog, stay tuned in...............

~~Leslie~~~