Pool and Spa Drain Entrapment: How to Prevent It

Drain entrapment happens when the strong suction from a pool or spa drain holds a swimmer under water, by the body, a limb, or hair, jewelry or a swimsuit caught in the cover. You prevent it by never using a pool or spa with a loose, broken or missing drain cover, making sure covers are the anti-entrapment kind, and teaching children to stay away from drains.

Entrapment is rare, and federal law has made public pools much safer. But it still happens, mostly to children and mostly in hot tubs, so it's worth knowing what to check.

What drain entrapment is

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Pool Safely, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) campaign, describes entrapment as when powerful suction from the water circulation system in a pool or spa causes someone to become trapped underwater (opens in a new tab). It warns that children's hair, limbs, jewelry or bathing suits can get stuck in a drain or suction opening (opens in a new tab), and that powerful suction from a pool or spa drain can even trap an adult (opens in a new tab).

In CPSC's most recent entrapment report, covering 2014 to 2018:

• 7 of the 11 victims were in spas or hot tubs, and 4 were in pools (opens in a new tab).
• Hair entrapment was the most common type (6 victims), followed by limbs (4) and body (1) (opens in a new tab).
• 4 victims were involved in incidents with missing or removed outlet covers (opens in a new tab).

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

The federal law is named for Virginia Graeme Baker, a seven-year-old girl who drowned after she was trapped under water by the powerful suction from a hot tub drain (opens in a new tab). It was signed into law in December 2007 and took effect in December 2008.

• Public pools and spas must have anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices, where needed (opens in a new tab). Pool Safely says no public pool or spa should be open if the facility is not compliant with the VGB Act (opens in a new tab).
• Home pools and spas are not covered. CPSC says residential pools are not required to install these, but they are highly recommended (opens in a new tab).

The law has worked. CPSC reports that since the Act went into effect in December 2008, there have been no reported fatalities involving a child being entrapped on a suction outlet cover in a public pool or spa (opens in a new tab).

Checking drain covers

You usually can't tell if a cover is safe just by looking, so ask.

At home

• Have a licensed pool professional inspect your pool or spa. Pool Safely recommends this, and replacing any broken, missing, loose or non-compliant covers (opens in a new tab).
• Ask about anti-entrapment drain covers and safety release systems. The Red Cross recommends you install anti-entrapment drain covers and safety release systems (opens in a new tab).
• Know where the pump and any emergency shutoff are, and show other adults.

At hotels, rentals, clubs and friends' homes

• Ask whether the drain covers are VGB-compliant. Pool Safely says parents should always confirm with pool and spa owners that they are using anti-entrapment drain covers (opens in a new tab).
• Look at every drain before anyone gets in. Pool Safely says to never enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover (opens in a new tab).
• If a cover is missing or broken, keep everyone out and tell the lifeguard, manager or owner.

Old, unsafe covers are often flat. Pool Safely notes that flat drain covers create a strong circulation (opens in a new tab) and can trap hair or a body part if they become blocked.

Teaching kids to stay away from drains

Children love to explore the bottom of a pool or sit on jets in a hot tub. Make drains off-limits.

• The rule: Pool Safely says do not play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools (opens in a new tab). The Red Cross puts it as stay away from drains and other openings that cause suction (opens in a new tab).
• Hair up: Keep long hair tied up and away from drains, since hair was the most common kind of entrapment in CPSC's report.
• No dangling items: Loose jewelry and strings on swimsuits can catch on a drain or outlet.
• Speak up: Teach children to tell an adult right away if they see a broken or missing cover.

Add these to your pool rules for kids.

If someone is stuck

The time to learn where the shutoff is comes before anyone gets in. Pool Safely says that when using a spa, be sure to locate the emergency vacuum shutoff before getting in the water (opens in a new tab). Show every adult at the pool where it is.

What you can do today

1. Look at your drain covers. If any are loose, cracked or missing, keep everyone out until they're replaced.
2. Book a pool professional to confirm your covers are anti-entrapment and your pool or spa has the right safety systems.
3. Find your pump shutoff and label it.
4. Teach the drain rule to your children before your next swim, and practice asking an adult about broken covers.
5. Ask before you swim at hotels and rentals. See public pool safety and hot tub safety.