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Unsafe Pools Must Close Friday

The deadline has arrived for a pool safety device

Friday, Dec 19, 2008 | Updated 8:39 AM EST

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Starting Friday, indoor public swimming pools and hot tubs must close If they do not have new drain covers to prevent drowning. The new requirements are intended to keep children from getting sucked into the drains under water.

If you are feeling energetic today and planning on going swimming instead of sitting with a cup of hot cocoa and watching the snow fall, you should benefit from a new feature meant to keep children safer.

The new system also includes a special vacuum release valve to release suction.

Congress passed the law last year and gave pool and spa operators a year to comply.

The law, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, was named for the granddaughter of Secretary of State James Baker, who died in a tragic accident.

Virginia went to a family friends graduation party in 2002, jumped into the hot tub. The 6-year-old who was on swim and dive teams, drowned when she became trapped because of a suction device in the tub, according to Safe Kids USA. Read more about the her story here.

Read a summary of the law here.