NBC晚间新闻 游泳池排水口存隐患（在线收听）

Pool drains pose serious risks

游泳池排水口存隐患

Usher's 5-year-old son is recovering in an Atlanta hospital after nearly drowning in a backyard pool after becoming trapped in the pool’s drain – a danger that exists in many pools across the country. NBC’s Tom Costello reports.

歌手亚瑟五岁的儿子正在大西洋医院住院恢复。他差点因被自家后院的游泳池排水口吸住而丧命。游泳池排水口在全国各地都存有隐患。NBC的Tom Costello报道。

We're back with an issue that's getting new attention tonight -- pool safety -- after an accident involving the son of a famous singer earlier this week. The child became trapped in the suction of the pool's drain. And experts say that's a danger in many pools across the country. Here's NBC's Tom Costello.

reporter: It was a frantic call to Atlanta 911.

Yes. I have -- my nephew was in the pool. And he -- he went and i couldn't get him.

reporter: The five-year-old son of pop star usher nearly drowned after being trap by the family pool's drain. Two contractors of the house saved the child. But the chilling reminder see experts of the serious risks a pool drain can pose. In Minneapolis, 6-year-old Abigail Taylor died months after slipping in the baby pool and landing on the drain. The drain sucked out her intestines.

You don't think about your child being disemboweled in 18 inches of water.

reporter: In 2002 the 7-year-old granddaughter of former sectory James Baker drowned after being pinned by a hot oh tub drain. Without the proper cover the suction on a pool's drain is so strong a grown man can struggle to pull free a rubber ball. Between 1999 and 2008, 11 children died in pool entrapments. Five years ago a new national law required public pools to install new dome-shaped covers to prevent entrapment. Since the law went into effect the federal government has no reports of anyone dying in a public pool entrapment. But the law doesn't cover private pools. And 32 people, mostly kids, have suffered entrapment injuries. The problem -- any drain cover can become brittle and loose in the sun and chlorine. So the danger is if the cover comes off.

Right. Then the toy goes in, the child wants to get his toy back and the suction can happen. That's when entrapment can happen.

reporter: The warning to pool owners, update drain covers and check them seasonally. Tom Costello, NBC News, Bethesda, Maryland.