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Thunderstorm Coming? Get Out of the Pool!

July 29th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Saw this story today in the Arizona Republic and thought the information might bear repeating for some folk who for whatever reason may be unaware. If there’s a thunderstorm anywhere in the vicinity of your pool, get out of the water ASAP.  Seems a guy wrote in to the paper about a disagreement he had with his wife over the safety of pools when a storm threatened. The advice given is right on target.

It’s not just that lightning is attracted to water, and that water is a fairly good conductor of electricity. It’s the fact that you are out in the open just like you were on a golf course or standing out in your yard.

And your [inground] pool is reinforced with metal rods under the concrete, and they could attract lightning, too.

Even if the bolt did not make a direct hit on your pool, a strike nearby could travel along the ground to nail you.

Your wife also is correct in urging you to leave the water at the first signs of the storm. Lightning can strike from as far as 10 miles away. So even if the storm looks like it’s a long way off, you need to get out of the pool.

So take heed and stay safe. Get out of the pool as soon as you see the storm coming.

Wife Is Right About Swimming During A Storm; Arizona Republic (azcentral.com)

“Dry Drowning” Another Reason To Monitor Children’s Safety in Swimming Pools

June 7th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

The beginning of swim season seems tragically marked each year by a rise in child injuries or deaths in pools.  Kids always rush to the water when the swimming pools open and school’s out. We as parents and adults must be vigilant every summer in reminding our children that safety is always first, and monitoring their time in the pool. But this story from South Carolina (USA) shocked me because it’s such a little known danger - “dry drowning”.  A 10 year old boy went swimming in a public pool and at some point got water in his lungs. He walked home conversing with his mom and sister, took a bath and feeling tired, went to bed.  He died an hour later - drowned by the water he’d inhaled at the pool.  Apparently in some people, there can be a delayed reaction to inhaling water; as much as 24 hours.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), some 3,600 people drowned in 2005, the most recent year for which there are statistics. Some 10 to 15 percent of those deaths w[ere] classified as “dry drowning,” which can occur up to 24 hours after a small amount of water gets into the lungs.

According to the story, three important signs of dry drowning are difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness and changes in behavior. People affected may not exhibit them all; in this case, the boy did not have trouble breathing at first, he was walking and speaking.  In children the signs may be so subtle that unless you know what to look for they will be completely missed. I know I would have had no clue.  Now when my small nephews visit me next, I will be more aware of their behavior during and after swimming. Hey, this could even happen to adults, too. I hope this story helps all to recognize and prevent dry drowning; it could mean the difference between life and death.  For more information on drowning statistics and prevention methods, visit the CDC’s safety website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drown.htm.
Boy’s death highlights a hidden danger: Dry drowning - MSNBC.com

Boy dies after swallowing swimming pool water - AP 

Portable Swimming Pools May Be Subject to Local Pool Codes

July 9th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

A while back I wrote an informational article on portable pools and their convenience.  I apologize for not mentioning that you should check with your local zoning law enforcement office as to whether your portable swimming pool is subject to pool safety codes and regulations.  I just finished reading an excellent story out of New York State regarding portable pools and safety.   In Utica NY, and in NY state people who erect portable pools more than 24 inches deep - even an inflatable, temporary model - must also comply with local codes for safety fencing, permits, pool alarms, etc.  The news story also has a good forum discussion with readers debating the merits of the law being applied to portable pools.  If you are thinking of buying a portable swimming pool, or already own one, you want to read this story and check with your local zoning office on whether pool permitting in your area applies to a portable pool. You don’t want a citation to ruin your summer.

Swimming pool safety rules are often ignored: Local codes officers struggle to inform owners

UPDATE: Pennsylvania state has adopted a Uniform Construction Code that imposes fencing requirements on residents who have portable pools. 

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Uniform Construction Code says any residential swimming pool [emphasis added] that is at least 24 inches deep or holds 5,000 gallons of water must be contained within a fence that is at least 4 feet high.

New State Code Requires Pool Fences - Beaver County Times 

The Pennsylvania UCC supercedes city, town, and borough laws; and appears in the story to have caught homeowners and borough councilmembers off guard.  Moral of the story: check not just your local ordinances but your state regulations and laws as well.

Swimming Pool Fence: Safety Can Be Beautiful

January 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

In summer’s heat swimming pools are quite popular. If you have a swimming pool you can just about guarantee that family and friends will be coming by to visit. A pool provides beauty and hours of cooling liquid relief from the sun. The kids are occupied outside, yet are safe nearby - or are they?

Every summer it seems the news regales us with tragic tales of young children falling into the water. Every parent’s worst nightmare is finding that their little one has drowned because they had not properly secured the pool area. A swimming pool fence is the easiest way to making sure these things do not happen.

Swimming Pool Fences For Families With Babies

As a baby begins to crawl they love to discover their new surroundings and this will include everywhere outside. If you have a baby you will want to make sure when choosing your swimming pool fence that the gaps in the fence are not big enough for the child to squeeze through. Little bodies with curious and inquisitive minds have the amazing ability to get into almost anywhere.

Swimming Pool Fences For Families With Toddlers

Toddlers are even more difficult to keep an eye on. It only takes one second for your concentration to lapse, and in that instant the child has gone. Make sure that the swimming pool fence you choose in this case also comes with a sturdy childproof locking system. A swimming pool fence with an automatic closing and locking system would probably be best.

As well as having a swimming pool fence around your home pool it may also be a good idea to purchase a pool cover for those occasions where you are not using the pool, particularly for during the winter months and at night. With an increasing number of pool accidents occurring around the home it is required by law in many places for swimming pools to be enclosed in a fence or other structure. Make sure that when you choose a swimming pool fence you consider your family’s needs and purchase the one that will give you the most peace of mind. You can begin your research on the internet. Any reputable pool company will be able to point you in the direction of a decent local swimming pool fence contractor. Companies specializing in this service can be found in the telephone book.

Swimming Pool Safety Covers: Save Lives, Protect Your Loved Ones

January 18th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

A beautiful swimming pool can provide years of fun and pleasure for your family and friends. Yet one must keep in mind the dangers that a body of open water presents, especially for babies and toddlers. Your pleasure can vanish in a second if an accident occurs and a young child is injured or killed by falling into the pool. Children are fascinated by the sparkling water and must be kept safely away from the pool when adults are not present. A swimming pool safety cover is a necessity to help prevent tragedy. Especially in a lawsuit-happy society, you need to protect yourself by having not just a safe and secure pool fence, but a safety cover.

Choose the Right Swimming Pool Safety Cover for Your Needs

There are three types of safety covers:

• Mesh swimming pool safety covers
• Plastic swimming pool safety covers
• Automatic swimming pool safety covers

Mesh swimming pool safety covers allow you to see the pool’s water; yet will prevent children from falling in. These types of covers clip into pins that are installed in the cement deck surrounding the pool, making sure that they are securely fastened. There is a tightening device which is located in the center of the mesh that pulls tightly together, ensuring that the mesh is pulled even tighter before it is secured. This creates a taut covering above the water so that even if a child manages to reach the edge of the pool and fall over the side they will be caught safely in the netting.

Plastic swimming pool safety covers are normally used during the winter months when the pool will be out of use. It covers the entire body of water from view. In the same way as the mesh swimming pool safety covers, these plastic ones fix firmly into clips that are embedded in the cement surrounding the swimming pool. These then are locked firmly into place so that there are no gaps that the children can crawl under to get to the water. The saftey covering is sturdy and strong and is designed to carry even an adult’s weight.

Automatic swimming pool safety covers are motorized as their name suggests and are therefore a more expensive option. But they are easier to use than the other two covers as there are no fiddly clips to individually fasten and unfasten every time you want to use the swimming pool. This also means that they are much more convenient as the motor will automatically run the cover over the pool or take it off. These types of safty covers also ensure that the entire pool is covered with no chance of anyone being able to get to the water and therefore are probably the safest to install. They provide a solid surface over the water when the pool is not being used.

When it comes to you and your loved ones, there is no such thing as too much safety. Choose the swimming pool safety cover that best suits your family’s needs.

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