24
Jan
2020
Pool Maintenance

For Best Spa and Pool Maintenance: Know Your Source Water
06
Dec
2019
Hygiene & Health
by Bob G. Vincent, MPA

Breathing Easier: Improving Air Quality at Indoor Swimming Pools

In a nutshell… Poor air quality in indoor swimming pool facilities can cause breathing problems for swimmers and others. The problem is not due to “too much chlorine” but mainly to chemical reactions between chlorine and substances brought into the water by swimmers. A team of researchers is developing a model of the factors that... Read More »
30
Aug
2019
Healthy Pools
by Bob G. Vincent, MPA

Keeping Swimming Pools Open with Good Pool Chemistry

Swimmers in the jurisdiction of Illinois’ Tazewell County Health Department (TCHD) may have enjoyed a summer of unprecedented access to their public pools. The credit for this happy state of affairs may be traced to a strong focus on proper pool chemistry and the consistent use of the old-school, but utilitarian, clipboard for help in... Read More »
16
Aug
2019
Pool Maintenance
by Guest Author Rudy Stankowitz

Busting the Myth on What Really Causes Accidental Chlorine Gas Exposures at Swimming Pools

On what was described as “the first nice day of summer break” in Pleasant Grove, Utah, Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool became a scene of mayhem when suddenly a chlorine gas release sickened 50 people. Reports of dozens rushed to the hospital due to the June 4 tragedy, including the admission of children to pediatric intensive care units, detail the magnitude of the event. Although relatively rare, incidents of this type turn the tables on our expectations for chlorine at swimming pools. Suddenly, a substance we use to help keep swimming healthy and safe by destroying waterborne pathogens becomes a threat to public safety. How can this be possible?... Read More »
12
Jul
2019
Hygiene & Health
by Water Quality & Health Council

Lessons from Lylah: The Role of Swimming Lessons in Drowning Prevention

A Florida dad recently dove into a backyard pool, clearing a 4-foot high safety fence in his path to save his 1-year-old son from drowning. The boy had wandered inside a pool fence, which unfortunately did not completely surround the pool. In an instant the boy had fallen into the water. News and video of that heroic rescue were broadcast widely, including the dad’s honest admission that the fence configuration was not completely secure. Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death of children of ages 1 – 4, according to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, and shockingly, 88% of child drownings occur with at least one adult present. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends creating “layers of protection” to keep toddlers safe around pools. These include: secure pool fencing; alarms on pools, doors, and gates; pool covers; window guards for windows that face the pool; designated “Water Watchers” to pay constant attention to children in the water; life jackets; CPR training for parents, caregivers, and pool owners; and swimming lessons. ... Read More »
14
Jun
2019
Pool Maintenance
by Bob G. Vincent, MPA

Pool Chemical Safety: What Pool Managers and Backyard Pool Owners Need to Know

Pool chemicals are essential to keeping swimming healthy and safe, but there are “two sides to this coin” that need to be considered. When used properly, they help destroy waterborne pathogens in the pool, clarify the water, and make the water comfortable for bathers. But when they are mishandled, pool chemicals can cause injury. A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzes the latest data on pool chemical injuries. It appears injury statistics have remained rather static over the period 2008 to 2016, which makes me wonder what it will take to start these numbers trending downward.... Read More »
24
May
2019
Pool Maintenance
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD, and Bob G. Vincent, MPA

A New Survey Reveals Americans’ Understanding and Misunderstanding of Pool Chemicals

This spring the American Chemistry Council (ACC) sponsored a survey of over 3,000 American adults to gauge popular knowledge and awareness of a summer mainstay: pool chemicals. Swimmers depend on pool chemicals to help keep pool water safe, comfortable, and enjoyable, but many pool patrons may be unaware that they have a personal role to play in maintaining good pool chemistry. As an outside group of public health and consumer advisors to ACC, we reviewed the survey results and report here on the most surprising, most reassuring, and funniest of these findings.... Read More »
14
May
2019
Hygiene & Health
by Water Quality & Health Council

Half of Americans Use Swimming Pools as Communal Bathtub, Survey Finds

Americans will soon head to the pool as Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer swim season fun, but a new survey finds that many knowingly contribute to making pools dirty – a practice that can lead to bad pool chemistry for everyone in the water. The survey found that more than half of... Read More »