How to keep the kids safe from nasties in the pool this summer

from The Therapy Book

The school summer holidays are nearly here, and many of us will be taking the children for days out at the local swimming pool. However, how can we protect them from some of the nasties that seem to turn up more and more these days in public swimming pools?

Recently, a news article published in the New York Daily News stated that a public swimming pool in Brooklyn had to be shut down when it became contaminated with fecal material. Park officials believed the incident was caused by a dirty diaper.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes a journal called Emerging Infectious Diseases. In the June 2008 issue, the CDC reported a study examining the safety of public swimming pool water in over 160 recreational water facilities. The purpose of the study was to determine how common two parasites occur in public swimming pools.

It turned out that one in 12 public swimming pools are contaminated with parasites.

Researchers in the CDC study took random samples from 160 public swimming pools around Atlanta, Georgia. Two microbial parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, were present in one out of twelve swimming pools. These parasites are found in human feces. They are spread when someone swallows swimming pool water. They are also spread if a person does not wash his or her hands after handling a dirty diaper or eats contaminated food.

The most common symptom of these two parasites is diarrhea. Children and pregnant women can become violently ill from an infestation of Cryptosporidium or Giardia. People with compromised immune systems, such as people with AIDS and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, are at risk of dying if infested with Cryptosporidium, according to the CDC.

"Baby pools" and smaller, less- frequently attended pools were found to contain the highest presence of these microbial parasites.

Practice safe swimming when visiting public water facilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer the following tips to reduce the risk of becoming ill from swimming in a public swimming pool:

- Do not go swimming if you have diarrhea

- Do not allow your children to go swimming if they have diarrhea

- Make sure your children make a trip to the bathroom before swimming in a public pool

- Do not swallow or drink swimming pool water

- Teach children not to swallow or drink swimming pool water

- Change baby diapers in designated changing areas in restrooms, not at poolside

- Insist on public recreational water facilities that are properly maintained

To learn more about natural health and alternative health techniques, join THE THERAPY BOOK, the most comprehensive one-stop-shop on the web with information on more than 200 holistic therapies and the conditions they treat. Free 10-day trial. Just click on the book below.

What Are the Benefits of Swimming for Kids?

from livestrong.com

Teaching your child to swim and encouraging him to swim regularly can have significant benefits for both his health and safety. Especially on a hot day, swimming is a way to keep cool while encouraging a healthy level of physical and social activity. Take your kids to indoor pools in the colder months to promote an active lifestyle all year long.Swimming provides a more effective workout than some other activities.

Safety

According to KidsHealth.org, drowning is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 5 and 24. By teaching your child to swim, he will not only become a stronger swimmer, but also gain valuable experience in the water. This experience greatly reduces the risk of an emergency if your child accidentally falls in an unguarded pool or gets pulled into deep water by a rip current at the beach.

advertisement

Sponsored Links

Kid's Gymnastics Classes

Fun Gymnastics, Sports & Fitness Classes. Book 2 Weeks Free!

www.MyGym.com

Physical Health

According to 24 Hour Fitness,swimming is an excellent cardiovascular workout that promotes heart and lung health, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture. In addition, swimming is a way to prevent childhood obesity, which has been linked to juvenile diabetes, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swimming also puts less strain on joints and connective tissues than other forms of exercise.

Emotional Health

Encouraging your child to swim can also improve his mental and emotional health. The natural buoyancy of the water is more relaxing than other types of exercise, notes 24 Hour Fitness. In addition, the CDC found that people tend to exercise for longer periods of time while swimming. Swimming can also improve overall mood, and help combat depression, notes the CDC.

Read more: here

The Swimsuit Style Guide for Women Infographic

by Susan Bodack via swimuniversity

This post was written in collaboration with Susan Bodack, the Director of Social Media Marketing at InStyleSwimwear.com. For additional swimwear-related tips and tricks, check out their swimwear blog, Beauty and the Beach!

At Swim University and InStyleSwimwear.com, we believe that no two women are shaped exactly alike. Regardless of your shape or size, all women are beautiful! These notions are good to remember but also easy to forget while you're shopping for a swimsuit. We hear it far too often–"I hate swimsuit shopping." But it doesn't have to be a frustrating or an unpleasant process! Once you know what styles work best for your general body type, you'll find your perfect swimsuit in no time flat.

It's important to keep in mind that these are just some general guidelines to help make the swimsuit shopping process smoother and more enjoyable. No matter what, always love your body and wear what makes you feel good, both inside and out!

Happy shopping!

5 POPULAR DESIGNS FOR POOL AND SPA COMBINATIONS

from Luxury Pools Blog

Today it seems no luxury pool is complete without the addition of a custom spa. The combination of a swimming pool and spa creates a backyard refuge where homeowners can enjoy the best of both (aquatic) worlds: They can swim laps and splash around with the kids in the pool, then take a relaxing soak in the spa to unwind.

A spa can be integrated with a swimming pool in a variety of ways. View the photos below to explore the five common design options for pool and spa combinations.

1. Pool with Integrated Spa

An integrated spa design is where the spa is located inside the swimming pool and appears to be part of the pool's overall shape.

The spa can be built into a corner, side, or end of the pool, depending on the pool shape and location of utilities. The two bodies of water are separated by a dam wall to keep the cold pool water from seeping into the heated spa.

Though the spa is within the swimming pool, it can be any size or shape. It can also be finished in a different plaster color or finish material to provide contrast between the spa and pool.

The walls of this integrated spa (at left) were finished in the same colorful glass mosaic tiles that adorn the pool's waterline and water wall feature, yet they give the spa its own distinctive border.

2. Pool with Attached Spa

An attached spa is constructed outside or adjacent to the pool. Unlike an integrated spa, the pool and spa appear as separate entities.

An attached spa can be any shape or size; some attached spas are configured to blend with the rest of the pool design (as seen in the picture below) while others are constructed in an opposing shape, like the circular spa attached to the rectangular pool pictured at left.

An attached spa can also be installed inground or elevated above ground. An attached inground spa is built level with the pool; usually one wall of the pool serves as a wall of the spa.

In most designs, the pool and spa are finished in the same materials. Sometimes the joint wall between the pool and spa is left uncapped to create a more cohesive look, as seen in this pool and spa combo (at right).

An attached raised spa is elevated above the pool; the elevation is usually anywhere from 6 inches to 18 inches, though 12 inches and 18 inches are most common.

A pool with an attached raised spa adds another dimension to the pool design. Because part or all of the spa's exterior can be seen, it becomes an attractive focal point and is usually finished with a decorative material such as stone or tile. For more rustic or tropical designs, faux rocks or boulders may be used to surround the spa.

3. Pool with Raised Perimeter-Overflow Spa

Raised perimeter-overflow spas are becoming increasingly popular in pool and spa combinations.

To create this unique design effect, the walls of the spa are set lower than the water level so that the water spills over the entire perimeter of the spa and into the pool. In reality, a small containment vessel captures the water and recirculates it back into the spa.

A raised perimeter-overflow spa can be integrated with the pool or attached. When the spa is integrated with the pool, it can appear as though the spa was lifted out of the pool and is floating on top of the water.

Raised perimeter-overflow spas are typically finished in tile to enhance the reflective quality of the water as it flows over and down the spa walls. The use of multicolored, iridescent glass tiles creates one of the most elegant visual displays, as the tiles glisten when the sunlight meets the water.

4. Pool with Spillover Spa

When a pool has an attached raised spa, it offers the chance to incorporate the visual and audible appeal of a spillover (spillway). One or more sections of the top of the spa wall are built at a lower level or with open spaces to serve as a spillway through which water from the spa flows into the pool.

Usually the spillover appears as a thin sheet of water falling evenly into the pool. Some spillover spas consist of one wide cascade, while others may include a few separated, narrow spillways. An alternate spillover spa design option uses funnel-like slots to channel tube-like streams of water into the pool.

5. Pool and Detached Spa

While a spa can definitely enhance a pool's design and enjoyment, there are times when these two structures deserve their own separate space.

When space is limited around the pool, locating the spa in a separate area could allow for a bigger spa. In addition, positioning the spa away from the pool area can provide a little more privacy for those seeking a relaxing escape.

Sometimes a detached spa is the best option for expansive backyards with an open garden design. If the pool is situated several yards away from the home, placing the spa closer to the back of the house will make it easier (and more pleasant) to access during the colder months.

When the pool and spa are in separate areas, it's important to keep a unified look between the two structures by repeating materials, patterns, or shapes, such as the stacked stone surrounding the outdoor fireplace, spa, and pool pictured at right.

Why Choose LED Pool Lighting?

from Pool FYI

High-Definition Lighting That Lasts

The growing popularity of color-changing LED lighting for pools and spas is primarily due to the brilliant-lighting effects of newer systems. The difference between old technology (incandescent) pool lighting and LED pool lighting is like comparing a standard definition television to a high-definition television—the colors and visual quality are simply stronger, brighter and more appealing.

Many pool owners also choose LED pool lighting because it is a more eco-friendly option. Not only do LEDs use far less electricity, an LED light can last six times longer than an incandescent light of equal brightness.

The Most Energy-Efficient Lighting Available

An LED (or light emitting diode) is a small semi conductor device that converts electrical energy directly into light. Since there is no filament, an LED does not heat up the way an incandescent bulb does, which wastes up to 80% of the electricity routed to it to produce heat rather than light. An LED light like the Pentair IntelliBrite® 5g White LED provides a noticeably brighter light while using 86% less energy than an incandescent bulb—resulting in significant energy savings.

Brilliant Colors for Unmatched Visual Appeal

The main attraction of LED lighting is the stunning visual appeal and ability to change up the lighting to suit any mood or event. Today's best color-changing LED pool lights feature numerous light options—from static colors like blue, green, magenta, red and white to dynamic pre-programmed light shows that enhance nighttime poolscapes with rich and vibrant colors. Plus, most allow you to also choose the speed at which the colors change, further allowing you to achieve a particular ambiance.

Choosing the particular color or light show for your pool is usually a simple process of stepping through the selections until you find your desired setting. Other systems allow you to include a dedicated controller to make choosing and programming your lights even easier and synchronize LED lights in your pool, spa and landscape.

LED Lighting Outlasts the Competition

The typical life span of an incandescent light is 5,000 hours, whereas LED lights have been proven to last 30,000 to 50,000 hours. The reason for their extended life is the durable, solid state technology, which has no internal filament to wear out.

In the past, LED pool lighting has received negative feedback because if one LED burned out all of the LEDs would stop working, similar to old holiday lights. However, new LED pool lighting systems like the IntelliBrite 5g Color LED will continue to work even when one of its LEDs burn out.

Learn More About LED Lighting

If you would like to discuss or learn more about LED lighting and other pool lighting options, visit the resources listed below or talk to your local pool professional.

Why Kids Should Learn How to Swim

from swimming pools FYI

While kids are still young, their mind and body are still capable

of absorbing and doing a lot of things. From the infant stage to

toddler stage, the mind and body of a child still continue to

develop. This is the reason why it is important for kids to be

trained of different skills while they are still young.

Aside from mental and emotional training, kids should also be

trained physically. An ideal sport good for kids is swimming.

Swimming is a sport in which both the body and mind function. It is

a good form of exercise and recreational activity which kids and

even adults love.

Health Benefits

Teaching kids how to swim will provide them a lot of health

benefits. An hour of vigorous swimming every day helps strengthen

the lungs and the heart making kids' cardiopulmonary health in good

condition.

Regular swimming is also good for kids' muscle and joints

development. Exposing the body on activities which require body

movement prevents joints and muscle injuries as kids get older.

Swimming can also be an effective alternative exercise which can be

performed in your own home.

Safety

It is one of the important reasons why kids should learn how to

swim at a very young age. Nowadays, there are a lot of incidents of

pool drowning on kids and even adults that causes injuries and

death. It is necessary to teach your kids how to be safe in water in case of

emergency.

Mental and Social Development

Teaching kids how to swim will improve their mental and social

development. Kids will learn discipline and focus which are one of

the required skills to do proper swimming. They will also learn how

to be responsible towards himself/herself as well as to other kids.

Moreover, kids will learn how to socialize with others which is

necessary for their social and emotional growth.

Renovating a Pool? Get Started Here

from the APSP

Need a make-over? With an APSP member professional at your side, you can enhance your home's value and reveal new opportunities for enjoyment with a refreshing upgrade or new treatment. Here are seven ways to renovate or restore your pool:

1. Resurface. Resurfacing an in-ground concrete pool restores beauty and comfort to cracked or roughened surfaces and extends the pool's functional life. For pools with a vinyl interior, a replacement liner in a new pattern can transform your pool overnight. Fiberglass pool owners can also consult with an APSP member professional for the product that will make your pool look like new.

2. Add a water feature. Install a waterfall or fountain to bring the sound and beauty of moving water to your outdoor environment. Water features like a dramatic spillover create a strong focal point and provide a dynamic addition to an otherwise ordinary pool.

3. Add a hot tub. Experience the relaxation of a soothing soak or the health benefits from warm water therapy. There's a hot tub for every need, every setting, and every budget.

4. Install new tile. Just as a new backsplash transforms a kitchen, new tile can set the tone for your beautiful new look. By selecting from the vast tile options available, you'll make the most dramatic improvement in appearance for the greatest value.

5. Enhance your surroundings. Consider a new or updated pool deck. You can extend the look of interior flooring to experience an outdoor family room with man-made or natural materials. Stain existing concrete. Or brush up dated, cracked or stressed concrete patios with a thick overlay and new finish. Add a sound or media system, or even an outdoor kitchen or fireplace for greater enjoyment.

6. Consider new lighting. Lighting not only enhances safety, it also adds a touch of beauty and pizzazz. Halogen and fiber optic lighting can add striking color to a nighttime poolscape. And long-lasting color-filled LED replacements can create an entirely new mood with little or no modification to an existing pool.

7. Think technology. New automatic cleaning systems have units that "walk" along your pool floor. These newer systems require practically no supervision. And you can still swim while the system cleans your pool. Digital controls make operating pool equipment easier than ever, letting you control lighting, heating, and cleaning with the touch of the button or with your tablet or smartphone. And upgrades like a salt chlorinator system or a solar cover and heater can improve both functionality and efficiency.

Keep in mind, you don't have to do everything at once. Pool renovations can be done over several seasons, allowing you to make the improvements and fund your investment at a pace that works for you. Of course, to ensure you get the most for your money, you'll want to hire an experienced pool contractor. An APSP Certified Professional will help ensure that your vision is transformed into reality — safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Find an APSP Certified Building or Service Professional here.

The Only Man In The World Who Can Swim With A Polar Bear: Grizzly Man

from barcroft media

Grizzly man Mark Dumas, 60, is the only man in the world who can touch a polar bear and the only man in the world that can swim with a polar bear. And as these incredible pictures show Grizzly Man, the fearless polar bear handler from Abbotsford, British Columbia, even goes for dip in his swimming pool where he and 16-year-old polar bear Agee enjoy a watery cuddle together. Grizzly Man Mark and wife Dawn, 60, train the 60-stone (800lb) friendly polar bear - the world's largest land predator - to star in high-budget TV adverts. Agee the polar bear has even performed in movies like 'Alaska' in 1995 when she was just a few weeks old. With his incredibly intimate bond Grizzly Man Mark Dumas wrestles on the grass with polar bear Agee, kisses her, puts his head in the polar bear's huge jaws, and even bear hugs her as she rears up on her hind legs to over seven feet. Mark and Dawn have owned Agee since she was six weeks old and the colossal polar bear even lived in their home as a cub where she played with the family dogs and was bottle fed.

For more amazing footage of the amazing side of life, visit the Barcroft Media website: http://bit.ly/19OYwp

Like Barcroft Media on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/RJlaj6

Follow Barcroft Media on Twitter: http://bit.ly/10vFLY9

Pool Toy Gift Ideas

from poolcare plus

Spring is just around the corner and it's time to think about reopening your swimming pool. Many pool owners love to watch their children or grandchildren play in the pool and provide pool toys to keep them entertained. Age-appropriate toys for the pool help children practice swimming and learn to love the water.* But what types of pool toys are best for which age groups? Here's help:

Infants and Toddlers: Children age nine-24 months love floating activity centers, which allow them to stay busy with attached toys like squirters, rattles, and stacking rings while enjoying the pool. Baby rings and puddle jumper baby seats are also popular pool toys for children up to 25 pounds.

Age Three to Six: Children five and younger like "driving" a float in the shape of a plane, car or boat; pocket seats help them feel more secure as an adult pushes them back and forth in the pool. Depending on their comfort level in the water, children age three to six can be introduced to water wings and kickboards to help them improve their swimming ability.

Age Six and Up: Children who can float and swim well enough to enjoy playing in the water will love Dive Dudes, spinning characters that kids dive for when these pool toys float to the bottom of the pool. They'll also have fun with battery-operated characters that swim around the pool in random patterns. You and the children can stay active with an energetic pool paddle ball game. And of course, both kids and adults love classic pool toys like water guns and splash balls.

Selecting a variety of pool toys ensures that children who use your pool will never get bored. And you'll have a wonderful time too – whether you just watch or jump in and join in the fun!

*Pool toys are not safety devices. Alert adult supervision is required whenever any child is in or near your swimming pool.

Why Choose LED Pool Lighting?

Posted by John Keene, Pool FYI

High-Definition Lighting That Lasts

The growing popularity of color-changing LED lighting for pools and spas is primarily due to the brilliant-lighting effects of newer systems. The difference between old technology (incandescent) pool lighting and LED pool lighting is like comparing a standard definition television to a high-definition television—the colors and visual quality are simply stronger, brighter and more appealing.

Many pool owners also choose LED pool lighting because it is a more eco-friendly option. Not only do LEDs use far less electricity, an LED light can last six times longer than an incandescent light of equal brightness.

The Most Energy-Efficient Lighting Available

An LED (or light emitting diode) is a small semi conductor device that converts electrical energy directly into light. Since there is no filament, an LED does not heat up the way an incandescent bulb does, which wastes up to 80% of the electricity routed to it to produce heat rather than light. An LED light like the Pentair IntelliBrite® 5g White LED provides a noticeably brighter light while using 86% less energy than an incandescent bulb—resulting in significant energy savings.

Brilliant Colors for Unmatched Visual Appeal

The main attraction of LED lighting is the stunning visual appeal and ability to change up the lighting to suit any mood or event. Today's best color-changing LED pool lights feature numerous light options—from static colors like blue, green, magenta, red and white to dynamic pre-programmed light shows that enhance nighttime poolscapes with rich and vibrant colors. Plus, most allow you to also choose the speed at which the colors change, further allowing you to achieve a particular ambiance.

Choosing the particular color or light show for your pool is usually a simple process of stepping through the selections until you find your desired setting. Other systems allow you to include a dedicated controller to make choosing and programming your lights even easier and synchronize LED lights in your pool, spa and landscape.

LED Lighting Outlasts the Competition

The typical life span of an incandescent light is 5,000 hours, whereas LED lights have been proven to last 30,000 to 50,000 hours. The reason for their extended life is the durable, solid state technology, which has no internal filament to wear out.

In the past, LED pool lighting has received negative feedback because if one LED burned out all of the LEDs would stop working, similar to old holiday lights. However, new LED pool lighting systems like the IntelliBrite 5g Color LED will continue to work even when one of its LEDs burn out.

Learn More About LED Lighting

If you would like to discuss or learn more about LED lighting and other pool lighting options, visit the resources listed below or talk to your local pool professional.