Granddaughter of Former Secretary of State [James Baker]Dies in Hot Tub

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | June 18, 2002 | AP

[Ligeia]

McLEAN, Va. (AP) _ The granddaughter of former treasury secretary and secretary of state James Baker has died in a freak hot tub accident.

Fairfax County police said 7-year-old Virginia Graham Baker was pulled underwater Saturday by the strong suction of the whirlpool and became trapped against the drain. She had been attending a party for her sister's high school graduation.

[Ligeia]

Such a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Baker family.

[Britton J Wingfield]

Damn. That is really awful.

[Pining_4_TX]

This is terrible, and more common than you might think. What usually happens is that a person's hair becomes entangled in the jets and pulls them under, but there are the situations like this one, where the suction of the drain pulls them down. I am somewhat surprised the drain suction would be that strong in a hot tub. I would have thought it would take something larger, like a pool, to create that much suction.

[mombonn]

May she rest in the arms of Jesus, and may He provide comfort to the family.

[nevergore]

May G-d have mercy on her soul.....

Very Sad...

NeverGore

[colgin]

When I heard this news this morning I remembered Baker speaking out for the values I believed in during the vote recount. I hope that he knows that many people he will never meet understand the pain of his loss.

[mdittmar]

The main hazard from hot tubs and spas is the same hazard involved with swimming pool drowning. The CPSC has reports of more than 700 deaths since 1980, with about one-third of those deaths due to the drowning of children under age five. Unless there is constant adult supervision, children should be kept away and a locked safety cover should be in place.

Since 1978, CPSC has reports of 49 incidents (including 13 deaths) in which people's hair was sucked into the suction fitting of a spa, hot tub, or whirlpool, causing the victim's head to held underwater. To reduce the risk of hair entrapment, make sure that your spa, whirlpool, or hot tub is fitted with a new drain cover that meets the CPSC standard for reducing the risk of hair entrapment. If the drain cover is missing or broken, shut down the spa until the cover is replaced, and never allow a child to play in such a way that his or her hair would come near the drain cover.

Check those spas,watch the kids.

[another cricket]

At seven it would't have taken much suction. Poor little girl.

a.cricket

[ventana]

He certainly turned the tide for us. We may want a more conservative President at times, but at least we don't have Gore, and Baker gets a good amount of the credit. May God bless him, and may God's light shine on him, and his family during this sad and mournful moment. V's wife.

[winin2000]

When I heard this news this morning I remembered Baker speaking out for the values I believed in during the vote recount. I hope that he knows that many people he will never meet understand the pain of his loss.

Quite true. It is not an overstatement to say without the steely-eyed Baker, Gore's goons may very well have succeeded in stealing the White House.

She'll be in my prayers tonight.

[Ligeia]

NORTHERN VIRGINIA BRIEFS

Girl, 7, drowns in hot tub

Fairfax County police are reminding residents of the dangers of hot tubs after a 7-year-old McLean girl drowned Saturday when she was sucked against the drain of a hot tub and trapped.

Virginia Graham Baker, of 8308 Summerwood Drive, had been playing in the spa at the end of the pool at about 5:30 p.m. when friends and family were unable to locate her, police said.

They were unable to see her because of bubbles generated by the hot tub, said Lt. Bruce Guth, supervisor of the department's homicide unit.

Another child who went into the hot tub felt the girl and alerted adults, he said.

The suction was so strong, it took two adults to remove Virginia, who weighed about 70 pounds, police said.

Baker was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

According to news reports, Baker is a twin and the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker.

Calling the incident a ``tragic accident," Guth advised parents and guardians to closely monitor children around hot tubs.

``Parents need to be aware of the danger that these whirlpools and hot tubs create," he said.

Source

[alisasny]

On an earlier thread about this ( since deleted) it said that the little girl was also a twin!!

Very sad, tragedy strikes us all!!

[leadpenny]

This is such devastating news. I can't help but think that the Baker extended
family is close the the Bush family. George and Laura must be broken hearted.
I'm praying for all those grieving over this loss.

[Ligeia]

The WJLA (Washington, D.C. ABC affiliate) story:

James Baker's Granddaughter Drowns in Hot Tub

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

May God give the family the strength Mr. Baker gave the nation during the election recount.

[Ligeia]

Give your son an extra hug.

[Thebaddog]

Send my prayers along with yours. Seven is a special age for a girl. God be with her and comfort her grieving family.

[TX Bluebonnet]

That is so awful! Prayers to the Baker Family.

I saw James Baker speak once in Houston and was really blown away. He is so smart and articulate. I wanted him to run for President. My hero!

[livius]

That's very sad. Prayers for them all.

[Ann Archy]

Prayers go out for the little grl amd her family. Geesh...a hot tub...people mostly think of only a pool to drown in.