CHICAGO, May 26 (UPI) -- Thousands of public pools across the United States may remain closed on Memorial Day because of a recall on drain covers, federal regulators said Thursday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of 1 million pool and spa drain covers that were "incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water through the cover, which could pose a possible entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers."
CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, in remarks prepared for a Thursday news conference, said, "I know this is a very difficult message for many communities to hear so close to Memorial Day weekend, but we cannot risk a child becoming entrapped in a recalled drain cover," the Chicago Tribune reported.
Tenenbaum's prepared remarks also cautioned public facilities to remain closed until "the work is completed that addresses the recall and brings the facility into compliance with the law."
Consumers should contact the Drain Cover Recall Hotline toll-free at (866) 478-3521 for more information.
