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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing April 2008 as "Swimming Pool

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Safety Month."

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     WHEREAS, the State of Florida has more than one million

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swimming pools, over 37,000 of which are public facilities

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regulated by the Department of Health, and

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     WHEREAS, residential and commercial swimming pools and spas

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add to the enjoyment, quality of life, and health of the state's

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residents and visitors, and

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     WHEREAS, swimming pools and spas are recreational facilities

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promoting the social gathering of families and friends in a large

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percentage of Florida residences, and

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     WHEREAS, Florida hotels and condominiums have thousands of

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swimming pools, spas, and wading pools used by even more visitors

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and guests, and

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     WHEREAS, the education of building code and health

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department officials, swimming pool designers and contractors,

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and pool owners is paramount to ensuring pool safety, and

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     WHEREAS, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act was

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recently signed into law by the President of the United States,

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providing mandatory safety measures for public pool facilities,

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incentive programs concerning residential pools, and overall

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outreach and education on swimming pool safety, and

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     WHEREAS, a new national consensus safety standard, ANSI/APSP

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7 Suction Entrapment Avoidance, was developed in accordance with

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the American National Standards Institute, and adopted by the

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Florida Building Commission, making the State of Florida a leader

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in preventing serious injury from entrapment, and

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     WHEREAS, chapter 515, Florida Statutes, is the Residential

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Swimming Pool Safety Act that focuses on backyard pool safety and

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the prevention of drowning, and

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Swimming Pool Association and the

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Florida Department of Health's Office of Injury Prevention are

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co-hosting the 2008 Swimming Pool and Water Safety Forum to

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increase safety awareness among consumers, pool industry

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representatives, and government officials, and

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Swimming Pool Association continues to

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promote safety messages to consumers and strives to educate the

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pool industry on correct safety measures regarding barriers,

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entrapment, and child supervision through classes, informative

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brochures, and the new FSPA Safety Program, and

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     WHEREAS, swimming pool and spa injuries and accidents can be

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prevented through the responsible behavior and preventative

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actions of swimmers, pool owners, and those responsible for the

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facilities, and

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     WHEREAS, mass media communications concerning swimming pool

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and spa safety during the peak period of use by consumers can

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create increased safety awareness and promote the installation

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and use of safety devices, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Florida Senate recognizes April 2008 as "Swimming

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Pool Safety Month" and encourages support from the media and

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other organizations in advocating practices of pool safety and

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providing information to the public.