Preventing Drain Entrapments
Drain entrapments are frequently the result of an adult or child’s body, limbs, hair or clothing becoming entangled with a faulty drain. The best defense against entrapment is to prevent it before it can happen by being watchful in and around a pool or spa.
CPSC recommends that parents and families be aware of the simple steps they can take to save lives in and around a pool or spa. These important water safety practices below are aimed at specifically reducing the hazard of drain entrapments and entanglements:
- Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments and entanglements
- Make sure that loose items such as long hair, clothing or jewelry are not dangling when swimming in a pool or sitting in a spa
- Ensure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask if you do not know
- Consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS)—a device that will automatically shut off a pump if a blockage is detected—or any other automatic shut-off systems in your own pool or spa
- Plainly mark the location of the electrical cut-off switch for the pool or spa pump
- Know where the pool or spa pump switch is and know how to turn it off
If someone becomes entrapped, employ these critical water safety steps:
- Cut off the pump immediately
- Instead of trying to pull the person away from the powerful suction of the drain or grate, insert fingers or a small object between the drain and the person’s body to break the seal and then roll them off until they’re free
- Have a portable telephone close by to call for help
- Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency
Read CPSC’s 2010 report on entrapment injuries.
