ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A new California law known as the Pool Safety Act (SB442) has been signed by Governor Brown and became effective on January 1, 2018.  The law requires new or remodeled pools and spas to have two of seven child protective safety barriers.  While existing pools and spas are not required to add additional safety barriers, the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA) suggests when it comes to protecting our young and vulnerable, all pools and spas should ensure appropriate safety barriers identified in the Pool Safety Act.

According to both federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and the State Department of Public Health's EpiCenter data, drowning is the second leading cause of death for California children one to four years of age, inclusive. EpiCenter data shows that between the years 2010 and 2014 more than 160 children one to four years of age, inclusive, suffered fatal drowning, with the majority of the incidents involving residential pools, and between the years 2010 and 2015 more than 740 children one to four years of age, inclusive, were hospitalized after suffering a near drowning incident with the leading cause of hospitalization being brain injury due to the lack of oxygen, also known as asphyxiation.

The bill goes on to say:
"Additional children suffer near drowning incidents and survive, but many of those children suffer irreversible brain injuries, which can lead to lifelong learning deficiencies that impact not only the affected child and his or her family, but also the resources and moneys available to California's health care system, regional centers, and special education school programs. The State Department of Developmental Services reported that as of December 2016 the agency was providing care for more than 755 near-drowning victims with severe brain damage resulting from the near drowning."

The California Real Estate Inspection Association, CREIA is a non-profit association dedicated to using all its resources for the benefit of members and the home buying public they serve. CREIA is an association of members for members, founded on the principle that joining and working together can avail much more to advance the home inspection profession and protect the public than could possibly be accomplished individually.

An informative flyer regarding the new requirements can be downloaded at https://creia.org/home-buyers-realtors

CREIA is dedicated to consumer protection and education. Go to WWW.CREIA.ORG/FIND-AN-INSPECTOR to locate a qualified CREIA inspector near you.

SOURCE California Real Estate Inspection Association

Related Links

http://www.creia.org/find-an-inspector