HR 9085

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution designating April 2008 as Swimming Pool
3	Safety Month.
4
5	WHEREAS, the State of Florida has more than one million
6	swimming pools, over 37,000 of which are public facilities
7	regulated by the Department of Health, and
8	WHEREAS, residential and commercial swimming pools and spas
9	add to the enjoyment, quality of life, and health of our
10	citizens and visitors, and
11	WHEREAS, swimming pools and spas are recreational
12	facilities promoting the social gathering of families and
13	friends in a large percentage of Florida residences, and
14	WHEREAS, Florida hotels and condominiums have thousands of
15	swimming pools, spas, and wading pools used by even more
16	visitors and guests, and
17	WHEREAS, the education of building code and health
18	department officials, swimming pool designers and contractors,
19	and pool owners is paramount to ensuring pool safety, and
20	WHEREAS, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
21	was recently signed into law by the President of the United
22	States, providing mandatory safety measures for public pool
23	facilities, incentive programs for residential pools, and
24	overall outreach and education on swimming pool safety, and
25	WHEREAS, a new national consensus safety standard,
26	ANSI/APSP 7 Suction Entrapment Avoidance, was developed by the
27	American National Standards Institute and adopted by the Florida
28	Building Commission, making the State of Florida a leader in
29	preventing serious injury from entrapment, and
30	WHEREAS, chapter 515, Florida Statutes, provides for the
31	Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act with a focus on backyard
32	pool safety and the prevention of drowning, and
33	WHEREAS, the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) and
34	the Florida Department of Health's Office of Injury Prevention
35	are co-hosting the 2008 Swimming Pool & Water Safety Forum to
36	increase safety awareness of consumers, pool industry
37	representatives, and government officials, and
38	WHEREAS, the Florida Swimming Pool Association continues to
39	promote safety messages to consumers and strives to educate the
40	pool industry on correct safety measures regarding barriers,
41	entrapment, and child supervision through classes, informative
42	brochures, and the new FSPA safety program, and
43	WHEREAS, swimming pool and spa injuries and accidents can
44	be prevented through the responsible behavior and preventive
45	actions of swimmers, owners, and those responsible for the
46	facilities, and
47	WHEREAS, the communication of swimming pool and spa safety
48	through the media during the peak period of use by consumers can
49	create increased safety awareness and promote the installation
50	and use of safety devices, NOW, THEREFORE,
51
52	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
53	Florida:
54
55	That April 2008 is hereby designated as Swimming Pool
56	Safety Month.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.