FAQs

The CPSC Pool Safely campaign is a national public education campaign launched by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries, and drain entrapments. CPSC’S campaign encourages consumers and the industry to adopt proven water safety steps and share best practices and life-saving information.

You can get involved with Pool Safely by taking the pledge, becoming a collaborator, or sharing the campaign’s safety messages with your community.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent agency created by Congress in 1973 to protect the public “against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products.” In addition to pool and spa safety, the CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.

To reduce child drownings and entrapments in swimming pools and spas include supervising children, teaching them to swim and to stay away from drains, knowing your drains and drain covers are compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act,, installing safety devices, getting CPR certified, and taking the pledge.

To watch children around swimming pools and spas, designate a responsible adult to be a water watcher who will watch them at all times, avoid distractions like cell phones and books, stay within arm’s reach of young or inexperienced swimmers, and learn CPR.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act is federal legislation that mandates new requirements for public pools and spas to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations. The Pool Safely campaign carries out the provisions of this act, including a public information campaign.

Some safety devices you can install to prevent drownings and entrapments in swimming pools and spas include pool fences, pool covers, door alarms, pool alarms, and anti-entrapment drain covers.

There are several options to secure your pool area, such as installing a fence with a self-latching gate, using a pool cover, and installing alarms on doors and windows leading to the pool area.

If someone is struggling in the water, call for help immediately and try to throw them something that floats, such as a life ring, to help them stay afloat until help arrives.

Inflatable pools are generally considered safe for kids, but they still pose some risks if not used properly. Always watch children around inflatable pools, follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines, and put away the inflatable pool when not in use.

No, children should never be left alone in the pool, even for a short amount of time. Drowning can occur quickly and silently, and even the most experienced swimmers can drown. Always watch children when they are in or around the pool.

There are several common pool safety myths, such as:

• That floaties and inflatable toys keep children safe
• That it’s safe to swim after eating
• That drowning is loud and can’t happen quickly
• That you only need to watch children when they’re swimming.

These are all false and can lead to dangerous situations.

Any organization can become a collaborator with Pool Safely, including national water safety organizations, family foundations, pool and spa manufacturers, and more.

Pool Safely collaborators have access to campaign materials and receive regular messaging updates, they can participate in events, and have their own events promoted by Pool Safely.

The Pool Safely Collaborator Toolkit includes social media-ready images, campaign messages, and new data points that can be used for events, on websites, social media, and in media interviews.

The Pool Safely Grant Program provides assistance to state, local, and tribal governments to help implement enforcement and education programs aimed at preventing drownings and drain entrapments in pools and spas.

Applicants must be a state, local government, Indian Tribe or U. S. Territory that has enacted or amended a law that meets the requirements of the VGB Act (15 U.S.C. 8001), sections 1405 and 1406.