Release Date: January 2, 2018
Release Number: 18-075
CPSC Offering $1.1 Million in Pool Safely Grants to Help Prevent Drownings and Drain Entrapments; State and Local Governments Encouraged to Apply
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announces a 90-day solicitation seeking applications for a special Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) offered to state and local governments. CPSC expects to award $1.1 million in two-year grants to assist jurisdictions in reducing deaths and injuries from drowning and drain entrapment incidents in pools and spas. The Pool Safely grant program is a part of CPSC’s national effort to make drowning and drain entrapment prevention a critical public safety priority.
The grant program is made possible through the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act), legislation that was authored and advanced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) Florida. Congress passed the VGB Act, and President George W. Bush signed the measure into law, in December 2007. The PSGP seeks to provide state and local governments with assistance for education, training and enforcement of pool safety requirements.
“These grants provide critical support for state and local officials to educate consumers about drowning and entrapment dangers and to enforce pool safety laws in their communities,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle. “During this 10-year anniversary of the VGB Act, we are recognizing the important role of the VGB grant program in helping to reduce the number of drowning and drain entrapment incidents. These funds will assist state and local programs to continue this lifesaving work to reduce such tragedies.”
Applicants must be a state or local government or U.S. Territory that has an enacted or amended state and/or local law(s) that meet the requirements in Sections 1405 and 1406 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 8004 and 8005).
Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the solicitation on Grants.gov, under grant opportunity CPSC-18-001. Applications will be accepted through April 2, 2018.
CPSC’s website: www.PoolSafely.gov, has supplemental information about the Pool Safely Grant Program and the VGB Act. PoolSafely.gov has a broad range of free, downloadable information for the general public, state and local officials, the swimming pool and spa community and the media.
The requirements of this child safety law will help to reduce the risk of drowning. The requirements include installing new safety drain covers and physical barriers, such as a fence completely surrounding the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates, and, if the house forms a side of the barrier, using alarms on doors leading to the pool area and/or a power safety cover over the pool. See additional pool safety tips at: www.PoolSafely.gov.
