Fence Industry to Spotlight the Importance of Saving Lives With "Simple Steps Save Lives Pledge"

MIAMI, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Industry leaders from the fencing industry can take the Pledge that could ultimately save a child's life this week while attending the AFA/FENCETECH 2012 show at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

D&D Technologies is rolling out the Simple Steps Saves Lives Pledge campaign this week at the AFA/FENCETECH 2012 tradeshow with a goal of gaining 1,000 signed pledges in 3 days. "If 1,000 people could inform one person about the preventative methods that compose the Simple Steps That Save Lives we could ultimately help prevent thousands of drowning instances," stated David Calabria, D&D Technologies CEO. "Every year, thousands of American families experience drownings, non-fatal submersions and entrapments—most of which are preventable if safe water practices were first heard, and second adopted. For over ten years D&D customers have directly and indirectly supported this cause through D&D and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and they should feel good about that. Now it's time to make our industry efforts more visible which will have an even greater impact.

Simple Steps Save Lives is Pool Safely's, Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) award-winning information and education campaign for consumers and industry participants to adopt proven water safety steps. To fulfill public education requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, the CPSC created the Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) is one of several organizations contracted by the CPSC to help with public education and outreach.

"From the very beginning, D&D has made it our responsibility to manufacture quality products that consumers can trust and educate the industry and public on ways to use products within their safety plans to protect children in and around water structures," Calabria explained, "The fencing industry holds an important 'Step' being that appropriate equipment for pools and spas includes the installation of a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and the use of secure and reliable self-closing and self-latching gates."

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death to children nationally. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that an average of 5,100 pool- or spa-related submersion injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments each year from 2008 through 2010. From 2006 to 2008 an annual average of 383 pool- or spa-related fatalities involved children younger than 15. More than three-quarters of the reported fatalities and nearly 80 percent of the treated injuries involved children younger than 5.

The Simple Steps That Save Lives Pledge states: Every child deserves to be protected. I pledge to spread the message that Simple Steps Save Lives to my customers, co-workers, business partners, friends and family. I will let people know that adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience at pools and spas, because you can never know which one might save a child's life—until it does. This week industry leaders are being asked to sign the pledge at AFA/FENCETECH 2012, and consumers can sign the Pledge online at www.ddtechglobal.com/pledge.

About D&D Technologies

D&D Technologies is the recognized leader in safety and general-purpose gate hardware manufacturing, including MagnaLatch® magnetic pool and safety gate latches, TruClose® adjustable, self-closing gate hinges, SureClose® the commercial grade closer & hinge, and LokkLatch® gate latches.  D&D's diversity of products continually set new standards in design, performance, craftsmanship and innovation–tied together by a singular level of quality. D&D products are rust free and consistently exceed all relevant safety barrier codes around the world for the residential, commercial and industrial markets. D&D is a co-founder and continuing supporter of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.

About the National Drowning Prevention Alliance

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004. NDPA members are dedicated to preventing drowning for all age groups in all bodies of water through public education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. The public is invited to join by visiting NDPA.org.

About The Pool Safely Campaign

The CPSC created The Pool Safely campaign to fulfill requirements of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act). The 2007 law is named for the 7-year-old granddaughter of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker who drowned in 2002 when she became trapped on an in-ground hot tub drain. Parents and pool owners are encouraged to visit Pool Safely.gov.

SOURCE D&D Technologies