Archive page 31 James Bakers Granddaughter Drowns in Hot Tub

James Bakers Granddaughter Drowns in Hot Tub

Location: McLean, Va. - Reporter: Kevin Schultze - Posted: June 18, 2002 10:25 AM EST

The family of Former Secretary of State James Baker is grieving over the sudden death of his granddaughter.

Outside the expansive home on Alps Drive in McLean, Virginia, a large white tent stands after a graduation party that suddenly turned tragic. Sources say, Bakers 7-year-old granddaughter, Graham Baker drowned in a hot tub.

Fairfax County Police tell ABC 7, around 5:41 p.m. Saturday Graham Baker was playing in the hot tub in the rear of the home in the 1300 block of Alps Drive, when she was puffed under water by the powerful suction of the drain.

A family member found the girl. called 911. and she was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 700 people have died in hot tubs since 1980. One third of those were drowning to children under age five.

The commission urges hot tub owners to follow these safety precautions:

	Keep young children away from hot tubs unless there is constant adult supervision.
	Make sure the tub has the dual drains and drain covers required by current safety standards.
	Regularly have a professional check your hot tub to make sure It is in good, safe, working condition.
	Know where the cut-off switch for your pump is so you can turn it off in an emergency.
	And keep the temperature of the water at 104 degrees or below.

Hot tub experts say most of the newer models are equipped with drains that help prevent such tragedies. They say consumers should fix their old hot tubs with new, safer drain covers.

As for 7-year-old Graham Baker, a neighbor says she was a twin and just a wonderful little girl.