Community Corner

Government Warns That Some Pools Present Drowning Risks; Tinley Gets the OK

Many thought problem was solved four years ago with new pool drain covers, but they've been found faulty and potentially deadly.

When the local park district's outdoor pool opened on Saturday, Karol Komar was confident that the facility was safe and ready for swimmers.

That's because inspectors from the Illinois Department of Public Health paid a visit there on Thursday, giving Komar, who's the facilities manager of the Tinley Park Park District, the official go-ahead. The "clean bill of health," as she calls it, is even more crucial now that a national recall for 1 million pool and spa drain covers has been issued.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan warned of the danger about a week ago, saying some pool drain covers could entrap swimmers.

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The situation is confusing, because many of the faulty pool drain covers are replacements for those deemed to be dangerous a few years ago.

After 7-year-old Virginia Graeme Baker became trapped underwater by the strong suction of a hot tub drain and drowned in 2002, the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act was passed in 2007. 

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The law requires pool operators, such as park districts, to install types of pool drain covers that prevent people from drowning if they become entrapped. The new covers came on the market around 2008.

The most recent U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall warns that the new covers were faulty and dangerous in representing a similar drowning risk to the earlier models.

View photos and descriptions of the faulty pool drain covers here.

The CPSC has urged public pool operators to keep their facility closed until inspections could determine whether the type of drain covers in use, according to Madigan's office.

She advised concerned parents to ask pool operators:

  •  Does the pool comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act?
  •  Is the pool equipped with one of the recalled drain covers?

Komar said many of the problematic covers have been showing up in smaller U.S. pools, where the suction is more powerful because its force is divided among fewer drains.

"We have 26 drain grates in our pool," she said, of the outdoor facility. "Our smaller, indoor pool, in the fitness center has been cleared and licensed as well."

For more information about the Tinley Park Park District's facility, White Water Canyon Water Park, or for pool passes, visit the district website.


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