POP! Goes the weasel…erm…Pool!

It was a pretty nice spot for the little quick-set pool, there up under the canopy of half a dozen, 80 foot tall, multi-trunk oak trees. There was always a nice breeze and even though it only got sun for about 3 hours a day, the Florida sun and ambient temps were enough to keep the water comfortable. It was just perfect for a family with small children, just enough to stay cool in the heat and humidity…until, one day, “Pop! goes the weasel…erm…pool!”

Set there, under the trees, with a newly ‘planted’ flagstone walkway leading up to it from the carport, it was just a really inviting spot, not only for the children and parents, but also for the birds, the squirrels, the stray cat and the family’s dog….who liked to chase the cat.

I had warned my son that he really should fashion some kind of cover for the pool, just in case some critter’s claws found purchase when it decided to go after a drink of water. I was thinking about the birds and squirrels and maybe a cat or coon.

I’m afraid even a cover wouldn’t have saved that pool from the four sets of kitty claws that dug in just before take off…nor the bigfoot claws of their pit bull puppy, as she took a flying leap at the feline.

Nope.

Easy Set Pools: Easy set up – but easy care?

Finally getting the little 8′ easy set pool filled with air and water didn’t really take too long. Grab a spare plastic tote to use as a pre-plunge foot rinse, throw the floatees and water wings in and make sure the dog can’t quite reach the rubber sides with her claws…then get the girls into their bathing suits and jump in! What a great gift!

Photo: Creative Commons

 Woohoo!

The first time was great since the sun had a chance to warm the water up while the kids were napping. Everyone loved it, except Dad when the youngest managed to slip out of her floatee seat and suddenly started swimming under water like she was born a fish!

Yeah. That was scary.

The second day was a little overcast so the water was pretty chilly. Even though Dad and the oldest enjoyed it, the little one wasn’t having any of it and when Mom had to go to work a little while later, it was “everyone out of the pool.” Little spoil sport.

Third day….lots of leaves, a few bugs and a slightly greenish cast to the water. And on the 4th day, well, it was time to find the pump…which, he discovered, did NOT come with the pool when it was given to them as a gift. No prob. Just dump it and start over.

So called “easy set” inflatable ring pools – above ground, obviously – are great for families who want a pool but have small children. You can get them as diminuative as wading pools or as large as 18′ by 52″ high. Of course, the smaller the pool, the easier to care for…just deflate the ring, dump the few gallons of water, sponge clean…refill.

The larger easy set pools…well, caring for them can be a bit tricky.

For one, it’s a lot more expensive to dump and refill a pool that’s even as small as 8′ X 24″, much less trying the same thing with a monster pool that probably holds around 4000 – 6000 gallons of water. Secondly, the filter pumps that come with these pools are not always the longest lasting pumps you can find, so check them often to make sure they’re in good working order.

Incidentally, it’s reported that the pumps that come with the smaller pools aren’t always sufficient to the volume of water they’re supposed to keep circulating, so it may be in your best interest to invest in one that is capable of circulating half again to twice the amount of water in your pool.

As a matter of fact, the general consensus that I’ve gathered from reports all over the web, including many from actual pool maintenance companies’ websites and blogs, is that the “comes with” pumps are good for up to about 6 months when it’s run regularly (one or two seasons, depending on your geographical location), so it’s probably not a bad idea to purchase one, regardless of whether or not it’s powerful enough for your pool.

A summary of common advice for keeping your easy set pool healthy is simply:

• when leaves and debris collect, skim it
• when you see trash on the bottom of the pool, vacuum it
• when it starts to turn green, shock it…use a product like ClearBlue, which is formulated for hot tubs and the like, to kill algae and
• make sure you use your filtration system the way your pool manufacturer recommends, whether you’re using salt or chlorine.

Investing in a pool vacuum isn’t a bad idea even when you have one of the smaller, 8′ X 24″ sized pools.

To repeat, because it’s pretty important: although you want to be cautious of the amount, strength and type of chemicals you put into a degradable pool, you do still have to take care of it in much the same way as a concrete, in-ground pool. Make sure you read the instructions that come with your pool and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

There are so many places you can find the accessories and testing/water treatment supplies you need to care for your little…or gynormous…pool, beyond pool maintenance or supply stores; places like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart, if you got your Easy Set pool there.

But before you go to purchase from any particular store, do your homework. Check for any special offer coupons either in your local paper or online.

One place you might want to check out for money saving offers on pool accessories and supplies…or perhaps on a pool itself…would be GoodDeals24/7. At last visit, I found nearly 15 participating pool related stores.

Final advice? Stay safe and enjoy your pool!

“Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?”

Well, that absorbent and yellow and porous cartoon character lives there, of course. But, what about in the water at the bottom of your pool?

When my son and his family moved into a “new” rental house a couple of years ago, they invited me over…and told me to bring my bathing suit. I wasn’t too sure why in heaven’s name they would want me to come over to scare my grandchildren like that…they were usually pretty protective of their kids, you know, no scary movies after a certain time of night and so on. But then I figured that if they had turned into mean monsters or something, I should probably oblige them (didn’t want them turning on me). Still, I do love my grandkids so, instead of a bathing suit, I put on a pair of spandex shorts and thought, “That ought to do it”…and headed on over.

I was very happy and relieved to find out that the reason for the clothing request was because their new house had a nice in-ground pool and they wanted to surprise me with a cooling dip! Relieved, I jumped in the deep end, spandex and all!

Turned out the kids were just as scared of a large, shiny, Spandex covered keister carousing in their brand new pool as they would have been of a very large, flabby whale in a turquoise tankini flopping around in the water. Who knew?

Anyway, after a good deal of splashing around, my son took me on a tour of the house and their nice yard. I couldn’t help noticing that their back-door neighbor also had a pool.  It would be a nice pool, I told my daughter-in-law, but was it supposed to be that shade of green?

Even for those who use their pool all year ’round, most won’t use it quite as regularly during the off-season, unless it’s an indoor pool. And once pool usage goes down, so too does the close attention it would normally receive.

Mustard Algae, not the same as Green Algae; requires strong chemicals to kill.

The green colour in an unused, unkempt pool is the result of algae. Algae will grow when a pool’s phosphate level rises and kills what chlorine is present to prevent its growth. Of course, during times of most usage, pool owners tend to skim, treat and shock their pools on a regular basis and only notice the algae after it has overwintered.

Off season, leaves and dust can collect on the surface, rain…well…rains down, bringing all the environmental pollution with it and birds drop their…err…droppings and other bodily wastes into the water. Insects (which actually do defecate) leave their…umm…leavings and sometimes just drown. Nitrogen and carbon are now part of the pool’s water system.

Add to that, debris from hurricanes and storms, whether from high winds or flooding, can also contribute to materials deposited into your pool. In short, unless you pay attention to your pool all year ’round, including covering it when it’s not in use, it can become a full dinner plate for algae to feast on, as all of the trash begins to rot and produce phosphate…gourmet algae food.

If it was just the algae, a good shock or 2 might clear it up. But you have to be vigilant; health problems can arise when people tend to think, “Well, we’re not actually swimming in it everyday so I’ll just put off treating the pool for awhile.”

The problem is that if you leave it too long, more than just green algae can start growing in there; black algae which looks much like black mold is growing on the bottom of your pool, mustard algae which is rather difficult to contain because it breaks down easily and resists regular chlorination…even pink slime (yes! that really is its name!) which is not algae, but a type of fungus and which can trigger asthma attacks in susceptible people.

Pink Slime Algae

It’s very much the same as when, at the sea shore during a “Red Tide” algae bloom, the elderly, the very young and anyone with breathing difficulties from any source are cautioned to keep their distance. Also, bacteria of all kinds love to grow in rot and if you have an open cut or sore, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities where your health is concerned.

Can it get worse? You betcha. The last thing you want to think  about when you’re swimming is what tiny creatures might be swimming beside you.  The fact is that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, any pool can be contaminated with parasites like Cryptosporidium (also chlorine resistant) and bacteria (like E. coli from fecal matter).  If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in the emergency room with a  really bad upset stomach or a scary-looking rash in places you’d rather not have them.

So, if you’re spending time around a green pool with pink slime around and in it, and your asthma or tummy starts acting up, or you notice a rash travelling up your body or across your face, it would probably be a good idea to call a doctor as soon as you can!

Oh, and if you see something that looks like a pineapple growing under your personal “sea” and if you spy an absorbent and yellow and porous something crawling out from under it, you might want to contact the nearest pool guy you can find in your phone book or online! Better yet, if you’re going to use your pool all year, test it often and keep it clean!

Note: I’d like to thank my son and daughter-in-law (you know which ones you are!) in advance for not holding me liable for the little bit of poetic license I may have taken!

“Sun Fun” or Sun Stroke…It’s Up to You!

No matter how determined we may be, we don’t always keep “Safety First” in mind when it comes to summer fun around the pool, patio or back yard. Sometimes the consequences can be as simple as a stubbed toe, but other times “sun fun” can lead to painful consequences, like heat stroke, sun stroke or heat exhaustion.

The term “heat stroke” is pretty self explanatory. It means that heat from over exertion (exertional heat stroke) or that exposure to high temperatures without physical activity (non-exertional heat stroke) has been too much for you  and results in a breakdown in your body’s systems. The term “sun stroke” means simply that you’re having these issues because of your activities while in the sun. Sun stroke, then, would be an exacerbating addition to heat stroke. Either way…no ‘Sun Fun’ for you if you aren’t careful!

The best way to avoid sun-stroke is to prepare your outdoor area first, by making sure you have a place to cool down quickly (and that doesn’t mean just having a pool handy) and by paying attention to the signs that your body is giving you at all times, whether it’s telling you that you need to drink something, sit in the shade, slow down or get out of the sun. There may not be anyone else who will remember these things for you…It’s up to you!

Preparing your outdoor space is not necessarily an expensive affair. If you have even a little imagination you can see to it that the surrounding area has everything needed for comfort and safety, whether your pool is in ground or above. Elegance or luxury, all the amenities or Spartan functionality…just be sure your space includes:

• Shade: make sure that your shady area allows an air current (perhaps even keep a battery operated personal fan on hand) and an elevated surface for an emergency ‘lay down’
• Extra hand towels which can be used as cool compresses
• Cooler(s) or dorm fridge for cool drinks and plenty of ice (always keep a cool pack or two in there also)
• Water on ice for ample, continuous hydration and core cooling*
• Water and/or beverages with electrolytes added, for emergencies (allowing about a half gallon per person for that purpose)
• First Aid kit
• Emergency contact list by a phone

* Icy cold water can cause stomach cramping if you drink too fast when you’re too over heated

By the way, don’t forget your pets who may share your fun-in-the-sun recreation! Dogs and cats (and guinea pigs, rabbits, etc) all wear fur coats year ’round and they have no way of cooling down except by panting. Because of this, domestic animals can be prone to sun or heat stroke as well, only it’s much easier to turn deadly for them.

One of those water cooler type of watering dishes would work outside, only think about putting a tray or so of ice cubes in the reservoir and wrapping it in a towel or flexible foam, like the stuff movers use when packing your china. Keep his dishes up off the ground and in the shade. Have a shady place for your pet to rest, perhaps under a ceiling fan.

If it’s extra hot out, so much so that even the shade is sweltering, how about a wading pool under the awning or gazebo! Pets or kids can stay cool no matter where under the sun they are…okay, kids of any age!

When spending time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine, whether it’s summertime, autumn, winter or spring, always prepare for heat stroke, sun stroke or heat exhaustion. Obviously, the above mostly refers to your summertime “Sun Fun”. Off season is different.

While you won’t necessarily be wearing a bathing suit, that doesn’t preclude the possibility of acquiring a sunburn, regardless of where on earth you live or what time a year you spend time by your pool. Some of the worst burns you can get can happen on a ski slope because of the reflective surface of snow. Just so, reflection from your pool doesn’t cease to be an issue simply because it is springtime or autumn. Hence, a good sunblock that is suited to your skin type can’t hurt a thing.

In order to help with the issue of sunburn, there are sun shade meshes available that will allow the sun to shine through while blocking much of the UVB rays, so helping to prevent sunburn. You can find these products by doing an internet search or by typing in the name of a manufacturer you may be acquainted with and adding a “.com” behind it. If you’re in the mood for a bargain, try out GoodDeals247.com and check out one of their listed vendors.

No matter how you look at it, being aware of your surroundings and paying attention to the signals your body may be giving you doesn’t mean you’re being overly cautious, any more than looking both ways when you cross a street instead of only one direction makes you overly cautious. If you want to have fun in the sun, take precautions ahead of time and get into the habit of “listening” to your body.

If not, well, sun stroke is only a careless minute of neglect away!

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* Note: Opinion is not advice! If you have concerns about your health or would like advice on how to accommodate any medical condition you may have, talk to a doctor first, before changing your health and/or exercise routines.

 

 

 

The Best Doctors…for Free!

The best six doctors anywhere

And no one can deny it

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Exercise and diet.

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If only you are willing

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