CPSC Announces $2 Million Available in Pool Safely Grants to Help Prevent Drownings and Drain Entrapments for State and Local Governments; Apply Now

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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Mar 29, 2019, 13:03 ET

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing a 90-day solicitation seeking applications for a special Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) offered to state and local governments. CPSC will award up to $2 million dollars 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 campaign 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 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 VGB seeks to provide state and local governments with assistance for education, training and enforcement of pool safety requirements.

"CPSC is proud to continue supporting communities in their efforts to educate consumers about drowning and entrapment dangers and to enforce pool safety laws locally," said CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle. "This funding will assist state and local programs in continuing this lifesaving work to reduce these drowning 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 meets the requirements of the Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 8001), 15 U.S.C. 8004 and 15 U.S.C. 8005.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the solicitation on Grants.gov, under grant opportunity CPSC-19-001. Applications will be accepted through June 5, 2019.

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 have helped 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

https://www.PoolSafely.gov/news/cpsc-announces-2-million-available-in-pool-safely-grants-to-help-prevent-drownings-and-drain-entrapments-for-state-and-local-governments-apply-now/

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

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Release Number: 19-089

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission