Engineering

I became saddened over the last couple of weeks as I have seen more and more news stories about children and adults dying in swimming-related deaths, many of which were due to negligence on the part of parents and supervising adults. Every summer, water and pool deaths rise dramatically. If you needed approval to build a pool, you will need approval to demolish it, and you also need a pool removal Perth service.

Swimming is the number one summer recreation activity and with that comes the need for increased personal safety and the empowerment of children and adults. Unfortunately, most people are ignorant of how hard it is to actually protect another person from a dangerous situation because they have no formal training. As a certified bodyguard and family protection specialist, I feel every parent or guardian needs to know a few simple facts to keep their children and family safe.

The Three Step Rule

On flat even ground, with good footing, it is virtually impossible to keep someone out of harm’s way if you are more than three steps away, whether that is accidentally stepping into traffic or being grabbed by a would-be attacker. In the world of protection we call this “the three step rule.”

In the water you do not even get three steps because water is just too hard to move in and has too many variables. In the water if you are beyond arms reach of your child and they have a problem, you are potentially facing disaster. I know this may seem almost unfathomable, but if you understand the science of personal and family safety you would look at your family’s protection dramatically differently.

The following are the main areas that every parent and child should take into consideration to keep your family safe when being around a swimming pool or other body of water.

Know What To Do In An Emergency Around Water

If a child is missing, check the water first. Every second counts in preventing death or disability.

Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

If you own a home pool or hot tub, have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit close by in a designated area.

Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

Know the shortest route to the local hospital / medical facility.

Pool And Water Safety Tips For Parents And Adults

Actively supervise kids whenever they around the water-even if lifeguards are present. Do not just drop your kids off at the public pool or leave them at the beach. Designate a responsible adult to supervise. Never leave your child unattended.

Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

Put your cell phone away. No phone call is worth your child’s life.

Every child is different, so enroll children in swimming lessons when you feel they are ready. Teach children how to tread water, float and stay by the shore.

Teach children to always ask permission to go near water.

Set time limits for swimming and playing in the water based on each child’s experience and ability.

Do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings.

Do not allow young swimmers to have breath-holding contests.

Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shorelines, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water very dangerous.

Avoid using medication and alcohol when around pools or large bodies of water. Alcohol and medication impairs judgment, balance and coordination. Anything that affects swimming and diving skills should be avoided. Some medication can even effect your body’s ability to regulate its internal temperature.

When there are several adults present and children are swimming, rotate the responsibility of watching the children between the supervising adults. People can easily become distracted after even short lengths of time so switch off supervisors ever 20 minutes.

You can start introducing your baby to water when they are about 6 months old. Remember to always use waterproof diapers and change them frequently.

Whether you’re swimming in a backyard pool or in a lake, teach children to swim with an adult.

Older, more experienced swimmers should still swim with a partner every time. From the first time your kids swim, teach children to never go near or in water without an adult present.

Remember that swimming aids such as water wings or noodles are fun toys for kids, but they should never be used in place of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device.

Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but not without supervision.

When using inflatable or portable pools, remember to empty them immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.

Single drain and flat drain grates pose the greatest risk in pools. If you are installing a new pool or hot tub, install multiple drains. This minimizes the suction of any one drain, reducing risk of death or injury.

For existing pools make sure your protective measures include anti-entrapment drain covers and a safety vacuum release system to automatically release suction and shut down the pump should entrapment occur.

Regularly check to make sure drain covers are secure and have no cracks, and replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones. If a pool or hot tub has a broken, loose or missing drain cover, don’t use it.

Pool And Water Safety Tips For Children

Teach your child how to swim as early as possible. Children can vary greatly in the maturity level and desire to swim but make it mandatory for them to learn to swim early.

Ensure your children know to swim only in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

Have children learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly. This is a skill set that will benefit them for a lifetime.

Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.

Educate your children about the dangers of drain entanglement and entrapment and teach them to never play or swim near drains or suction outlets. Make sure kids swim only in areas designated for swimming.

Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. They need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather.
Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa.

Make sure that your child knows that if a child is missing they need to look for him or her in the pool or spa first.

Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.

Teach children that no one should ever swim alone.

Caution children against showing off and playing rough and explain the dangers of running and diving recklessly.

Train your child to never push others into the pool.

Ensure your child understands that when using water slides, always go feet first.

Before diving or sliding, check to be sure that other swimmers are out of the way.

Make sure children keep rescue devices and first aid supplies near the pool and know how to use them.

Teach children what to do in case of emergency. Training like “know go” and “yell tell” is a good place to start. An alarm bell that could summon help would also be a good idea.

Pool Equipment, Toys, And Surrounding Area Safety

Use non-slip materials on the pool deck, diving board and ladders.

Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.

Safety covers and pool alarms should be added as additional layers of protection to your pool.

Remove any structures that provide access to the pool, such as outdoor furniture, climbable trees, decorative walls and playground equipment.

Keep toys that are not in use away from the pool and out of sight. Toys can attract young children to the pool.

Electrical equipment should be installed by a licensed electrician in accordance with local safety codes.

Check with a professional pool contractor to be sure the depth is sufficient for a diving board or slide. Always put a slide in a deep area of the pool – never in shallow water.

There should be a fence at least six feet high around all sides of the pool with a locked gate to keep children out when there is no supervision and the fence should be constructed so it is difficult to climb. Lawn furniture, trees and shrubs should not be close enough to provide an easy boost over the fence. Locks and latches should not be easy for a child to open.

If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install door alarms and always use them. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing pools or spas.
Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water. Avoid using a side of the house as part of the fence; toddlers have wandered out through an open patio door or window and drowned.

Mark water depths conspicuously. Use a safety float line where the bottom slope deepens.

Above-ground pools: Install sturdy guard rails around the pool deck. Look for rolled rims on the metal shell to be sure the rims do not present a sharp cutting edge if someone falls. The access ladder to the deck should be sturdy and without protruding bolts or other sharp edges. The access ladder should swing up to prevent children from unauthorized entry or should be easily removable for secure storage away from the pool area.

Keep electrical appliances such as radios out of the pool area because of the hazard of electrical shock.

Install a door alarm, a window alarm or both to alert you if a child wanders into the pool area unsupervised.

Unfortunate Statistics

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death among children aged 1-4 years.

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children 5-9 years.

More than 60% of fatal drownings of 0-4 year-olds occur in swimming pools.

The National Child Safety Council reports that 600 children and adults drown annually in swimming pools, 330 in home pools.

Do not let your child or any member of you family become an unfortunate statistic. Take water safety seriously and maintain due diligence and focus around any body of water.

Brett Lechtenberg is Utah’s foremost expert on personal and family safety. Brett has dedicated his life to educating people about family safety and personal security. Through his comprehensive lecture series, motivational speaking and personal protection courses, Brett has trained thousands of everyday people to empower themselves both physically and mentally, as they learn the safest and most effective methods of personal protection. Learn more at Brett’s websites http://www.brettlechtenberg.com and http://www.antibullyprogram.com.

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For the homeowner, a swimming pool that will totally maintain itself is the Holy Grail. While no pool can be considered truly “maintenance free,” we are getting closer every year. Advancements in controls, sensors, and chemical feeders reduce the time required to a pool. To keep things simple, we will focus on three components to maintaining a clear pool and technologies available. These include: 1) sweeping/vacuuming, 2) balancing water chemistry, and 3) filtration. A properly designed/configured solution will definitely reduce the maintenance on your pool. Experience pool removal Adelaide will help you demolish your pool in anytime you want.

AUTOMATIC CLEANING

The latest development in automatic cleaning is “in-floor cleaning.” Somewhat similar to an automatic sprinkler system, these low profile fixtures will pop-up automatically to drive all debris down to the drain and out of the pool. This is not a cheap add-on for a new pool build and prices range from 4 to 10 thousand dollars.

Many are already familiar with the “robotic cleaning” systems which involve an automated cleaner/sweeper working its way around your pool during its cleaning cycle. There are several models available from Pentair, Hayward, and Polaris. They all have different features, benefits, and pricing. Keep in mind the size and weight. A common complaint with some of the newer systems is the weight and it is hard for some individuals to remove the system out of the pool.

Unfortunately, there is nothing in the market place that can replace the telescopic net. The good news is this item is not needed all of time for most of us. But if you do have floating leaves or pollen, remove it as soon as possible or you will be dealing with an organic stain at the bottom of your pool.

BALANCING WATER CHMISTRY

Sanitation These options have not changed much over the past couple of decades. However, the delivery systems have made major changers. Chemical treatments would include traditional chlorine (calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, dichlor, and trichlor), bromine (less common), biguanide (Baquacil and AquaSilk), and Copper Sulfate (Pristine Blue). You are probably familiar with a “salt pool,” or a salt water generator (SWG) which converts sodium chloride salt into chlorine. When the water chemistry is properly maintained, SWGs can drastically reduce the need to shock your swimming pool.

Non-chemical treatment would include ionization (copper, copper/silver, copper/zinc), mineralizers (Pool Frog), ozonation, and U/V Light. The last 3 items do not provide a “residual” for sanitation and the biocide component is short lived making it a poor choice as a primary sanitizer. Do not get me wrong, they do offer wonderful benefits. They all reduce the amount of chlorine that is necessary to maintain a pool. Ozone and U/V are becoming more popular with the combined use of chlorine to reduce the disinfection byproducts (DBP such as chloramines and thihalomethanes) and can reduce the frequency of using shock treatments. Of these non-chemical alternatives, only ionization has a long lasting disinfection which makes it the most attractive option. Ionization can be used with anything listed above including chlorine or be used in a “chlorine free” pool.

AUTOMATED pH SYSYTEM

Keeping your pH and alkalinity in balance is probably what occupies most of your time in balancing your water chemistry. If the pH is too high, chlorination is not an effective algaecide or biocide. Your water can also become cloudy from dissolved solids coming out of solution which will create scaling conditions. Alkalinity will drive your pH up. And addition of make-up water can throw everything off. Today, many manufacturers such as Pentair, Rola-Chem, and Hayward offer systems that will monitor pH and have a pump to feed an acid solution when needed to help keep your water chemistry in balance. This is a must have if you are seeking a “maintenance free” pool. Although these systems are automated, they do require occasional maintenance. The pH probe must be cleaned periodically and the system needs to be calibrated to make sure the readings are accurate. Both of these processes are only performed a couple times per season and are not time consuming.

FILTRATION AND FILTER AIDS

Filtration is what keeps the water clear and makes the water pleasing to the eye. There are 3 basic types of filters being used today and each have their pros and cons. Below we have a quick rundown.

Sand

Sand is by far the easiest to maintain but its filtering ability is the lowest – down to about 20-40 microns. Cleaning a sand filter is very easy; simply backwash the filter to remove the trapped debris. The constant back-washing will remove quite a bit of water from your pool and the make-up water will through your water chemistry off. For me personally, that is a major disadvantage and adds time to pool maintenance. There are a few types of media that can be used but we will save that for another article.

DE

The most effective filter media, is DE (diatomaceous earth). DE is made up of fossilized diatoms (porous, sponge like microscopic organism) and can filter down into the 5 micron range. DE, however, requires a little more care than sand. When you backwash you never really know how much DE you remove so you never really know how much to put back in. Also if the screen tears, it makes an awful mess in your pool. However, it will keep your water nice and clear.

Cartridge

This is my favorite. It is also the greenest alternative. There is no back-washing so your water chemistry tends to stay balanced. Their filtration efficacy falls somewhere between Sand and DE. Cleaning the filters is not hard but will take a little bit of time (10 – 30 minutes depending on filters and if soaking is required).

Clarifiers (Filter-aid)

There are many chemicals that fit in this class. They are used to pull small particles into larger chunks so the filter can then remove them. It will give water that extra bit of sparkle. They usually have a name such as Emerald, Clear, or Blue in its name. The chemistry is not usually disclosed, but we do know most are a cationic polymer or sodium polyacrylate. Even though a peristaltic pump can be used for application, it is not recommended to be used unless it is truly needed. The reason being is that too much can gum up your filter.

Ozone (Filer-aid)

Ozone generators are used in conjunction with other technologies/treatments to oxidize any and all organic matter in the pool water. “Oxidation” is essentially what chlorine does, but with ozone, the leftover byproduct is pure clean oxygen. The oxidized material will either fall to the bottom of your pool or remain suspended so your filter can capture it. The new DEL Ozone Eclipse uses a proprietary method to produce mixed oxidant of ozone and hydroxide radicals. Both are very strong oxidizers and are also naturally occurring. You cannot get more organic than this.

ODDS & ENDS

Automatic Pool Covers

Pool covers keep debris from getting into your pool when not in use. For many of us, it is a must have for the Fall season. While an automatic pool cover offers safety around a pool, it also can greatly reduce maintenance requirements. On days when leaves are falling, just cover the pool and keep all the debris out of the pool. Throughout the rest of the year, the chemicals will last a lot longer if the pool is covered when not in use, because of reduced evaporation and also because of protection from the sun.

Computer Automation

Swimming pools are now smart (and yes there is an app for that). Features such as wireless controllers and remote monitoring, makes it convenient. You can control pumps, lights, water features, sound systems just to name a few. These modern controllers allow you to adjust any and all functions without ever getting up out of your chair, out of the pool, or even outside your house. They are easy to program and additional equipment can be added.

WHAT IS THE BEST COMBINATION FOR A “MAINTENANCE FREE” POOL?

Again, “maintenance free” pools are not quite here. So for a good start at a “reduced maintenance” pool, here are a few suggestions (of course this depends on your budget and if you are building pool or just trying to upgrade your existing pool equipment). To balance my water chemistry, I opt for the Genesis Expanse copper ionization system from Intec Americca Corporation as the primary sanitizer and set it on a timer and run it for about 2 hours a day at a reduced power. I would use the DELOzone Solar Eclipse as a clarifier/filtration aid and run this I conjunction with the pump. Finally, I would use the Rola-Chem pH feed system to maintain my pH. I would also recommend a cartridge filter (no brand pr. I would also use a Creepy Crawly or Baracuda for the cleaner. It is light and cab be quickly and easily removed from the swimming pool by mostly anyone.

Intec America Corporation has been treating water for over 40 years. If you any questions regarding your swimming pool or treatment or water for your residence, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation. Visit us on the web at Intec-America.com or call us at 800-896-1759.

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Stainless steel – the Centenarian Environmentalist…

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. It is the ideal material for a multitude of applications. Indeed, from the very outset, all stainless steel products that leave the factory already have their own history attached to them. ‘New’ stainless steel products typically contain recycled content of around 60%. That laboratory sink or stainless steel splashback may have enjoyed a previous life as a water pipe or catering canopy.

As it nears its centenary year, this highly recyclable material is proving to be more popular than ever, with a growing demand for consumer goods forged out of this corrosion-free alloy. Indeed, it is now one of the oldest kids on the block; since its discovery in Sheffield in 1913, a further 18 metals have been discovered by mankind. In addition, there’s the small matter of two world wars that have been fought, not to mention the arrival of nuclear fission. While there are many superlatives that can be used to describe this high quality metal – shiny, lustrous, durable, elegant, impervious – ‘new’ is not one of them. So why is it that this centenarian metal has found a new lease of life, and is now being utilised in everything from stainless steel worktops to stainless steel shower trays? Modern, minimalist homes are increasingly being kitted out with stainless steel fixtures and fittings throughout. Stainless steel fabrication is booming. When exactly did steel become so essential and so, well, sexy? To answer that question, it is necessary to first consider the state of 21st-century consumer culture.

Our throw-away society – where does stainless steel fit in…

We live in a disposable society. Consumer goods which were traditionally meant to last for years are now designed to be used once and then binned. Disposable mobile phones, chucked out when the credit’s run out. Disposable tents, £15 from your local supermarket. Take it to your music festival of choice, trash it and leave it for someone else to clean up. Six-packs of socks, £2 from the discount fashion emporium. Wear them once then chuck ’em out; what’s the point in doing the laundry when you can simply buy a new set?

Nothing lasts forever, but nowadays it would appear that nothing lasts, period. The disposable nature of consumer goods would appear to fit with the mood of the times. Since the rise of the internet generation, attention spans can now be measured in seconds rather than minutes or hours. There’s a reason why YouTube videos are capped at 15 minutes and Facebook updates at 420 characters. We like the world condensed into bite-sized chunks for our amusement; that way, as soon as we get bored, we can simply move on to the next one, and the next one, leaving a trail of discarded phones, cars and kitchen appliances on our wake.

Convenient as the ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ policy may be, it’s not quite so beneficial to the entity we affectionately refer to as Mother Earth. In recent years, the rise of environmentalism has made the plight of the planet everyone’s concern. Whether willingly involved, or begrudgingly cajoled, there is no avoiding the environmentalist agenda; it’s everywhere, from recycling bins in the supermarket car park, to cashiers inside the store, guilt-tripping you into foregoing your plastic bag. Thus, paradoxically, at a time when half of mankind is discarding more junk than ever, the other half is intent on recycling, reusing and reducing our carbon footprint. Is it possible to be a consumer while still being mindful of the planet’s welfare? Is it possible to bin our unwanted junk without feeling compelled to pay penitence for our sins against the planet? Yes, is the short answer. But – and there’s always a but – it really depends on what happens to that detritus when you’re done with it. Waste matter that ends up as landfill is no use to anyone; digging a hole and burying humanity’s rubbish will only obfuscate the problem for as long as it takes for the noxious gases to be released into the atmosphere and the heavy metals to seep into the soil. As our planet’s precious resources are steadily diminished, it is imperative that as much waste as possible is recycled. It is for this reason that stainless steel has suddenly found itself at the forefront of the environmental agenda.

Stainless Steel Products tick all the recycling boxes…

Recycling isn’t just a one-off process however: it is a never-ending cycle that sees one man’s junk turned into another’s treasure, until that man’s treasure finally fades and is then relegated to the guest bedroom, and then the attic, until one day it is taken to the appropriate recycling receptacle to be turned into treasure for the next generation.

Stainless steel may be wholly recyclable, but the period between its exiting the electric arc furnace and returning to be melted down is likely to be decades. Given the metal’s imperviousness to corrosion, it is generally recycled, not due to degradation, but because it is no longer required for the purpose it was designed for. Tastes and trends change rapidly; one man’s trendy stainless steel kitchen may be another’s industrial hell. Aesthetic interpretations aside however, the future of this versatile material would appear to be assured. As natural resources such as oil become scarcer and less cost-effective, manufacturers will begin seeking alternatives to plastics and PVC. Given the all-round versatility of steel, coupled with its environmental credentials, the future of manufacturing would appear to hinge upon forging steel alloy with 11% chromium. From this heady concoction, this multi-faceted metal is born.

For consumers requiring disposable tents and cheap disposable socks, metal is not much use. For most other applications however – domestic and commercial – it can hold its own, while ticking all the right boxes: durable, easily-cleanable, aesthetically-pleasing and, of course, environmentally-friendly. Stainless steel doesn’t do too badly for an inert metal that’s knocking 100.

Samuel Davies is an expert in stainless steel fabrication with extensive experience in manufacturing bespoke stainless steel products, and is the author of this article about Stainless Steel Products and their benefits to environmental protection. To find out more about stainless steel fabrication visit this Stainless Steel Products Blog.

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