LOS ANGELES, CA – April 7, 2009: Pacific Pavingstone (http://www.pacificpavingstone.com) one of the largest paving stone driveway, patio and walkway installation companies in Southern California is informing pool and spa owners about the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.

If you own a pool, surely you have learned of the recently instated Virginia Graeme Baker Act. The act was instituted after Virginia Graeme Baker, 7 year old daughter of James and Nancy Baker, drowned in a backyard hot tub in 2004. Virginia was in the hot tub with two of her sisters when she disappeared under the water. The suction from the drain trapped her and she drowned. It took two men to pull her out. Sadly, Virginia is only one of hundreds of children every year that drown due to being entrapped at the bottom of the pool.

In order to prevent such tragedies, her parents and grandfather developed an act that requires all drains in public pools and spas (i.e. hotels, apartment complexes, parks, etc.) to be torn out and revamped to meet stricter, safer standards. Pools with one drain must have an acceptable cover or adhere to one of the following guidelines: it must have a safety vacuum release, a suction-limiting vent system, a gravity drainage system, an automatic pump shut, a disabled drain, or any other system deemed acceptable by the Commission. The legislation works to require the federal government to, “…provide states with a modest amount of money…$25 million in the first year, provided those states will implement safety standards for pools and spas, safety fencing and things like that.” ( CNN Transcript).

To read more about the act please visit http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/vgb/pssa.pdf. Make sure that before you begin your paver installation you are fully aware of the terminology so you can get the most out of your paver project!

Terry Morrill, founder and CEO of Pacific Pavingstone, sums up with: “This is a very important act. Stricter pool safety standards will help prevent a lot of these accidents.” Terry Morrill also California Waterscapes (http://www.californiawaterscapes.com), which designs and installs ponds, waterfalls and water features around the Los Angeles area. Pacific Paving Stone has twice been included on the Inc 500 list of fastest growing companies, and this year was included on the Inc 5000 list and recently won The Angie’s List Award for Superior Service.

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