interesting facts

You must be familiar with mail slots, right? Yes, they are slots in either door or wall to give mail carriers easiness in delivering mail. You can find these slots in household or even business and office building. However, do you notice that these slots were actually used in Paris? Do you notice that they are divided into some several different types? This article will reveal some interesting facts about this certain mailing supply that you might not notice before.

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Why I Want a Swimming Pool

So you want a swimming pool. I know I do but that's because my body is getting flabbier as I get older and I want a pool for 2 reasons. I hope by exercising in a swimming pool it will tone my muscles, help me loose some of my flab and make me fitter and the other reason is I don't want to scare people when I use a shared pool. When I'm in a public swimming pool people think there's a whale loose in it when it's only me. Oh dear, I think I need to diet as well.

I spent last summer vacationing in Europe. I started in London - it rained, travelled through France and stayed in an old converted remote farmhouse with its own pool and then travelled down through Spain to the Costa del Sol where I then spent 3 weeks in a villa high in the Andalusian mountains with stunning sea and mountain views and of course its own swimming pool. Both pools were unique and were self-builds. The swimming pool in Spain had been built by the villa owner, a great guy called John, who was an ex pat builder from London. The swimming pool he had built was 25 ft by 32 ft. It wasn't square, the floor wasn't level, the tiling wasn't level, the slope of the floor wasn't even, and you know, it was the best swimming pool I've ever been in. It was great.

I had travelled to Spain to see the area as its somewhere I had always wanted to visit on a vacation and do you know, I need to go back as I didn't see a great deal of it. I spent most of the 3 weeks I was there in the pool. The swimming pool had what they call in England, rustic charm. The sides were not straight, the floor tiles were slightly uneven and the floor sloped ever so slightly from side to side but taken with the converted stables, now a villa, and the country setting it worked and worked very well. It was the best swimming pool I've ever been in. If I was building a swimming pool this is how I would build it. However, a swimming pool like this would not work with a new build house, it just wouldn't suit it.

Take the swimming pool in France. This was much more of a modern pool but again was in a countryside setting so a really formal new swimming pool wouldn't work and I'm pleased to say that this wasn't a formal swimming pool although at least everything was straight like the sides of the pool. Again, the design was something I had never seen before. The swimming pool sloped down from the shallow end but at a certain point, the deep part fell away on all 4 sides to become 12 ft deep. However, it had an underwater ledge about 3 ft below the surface all the way round the pool. It was great for chasing the kids round the pool, or for them chasing me, and we had a fantastic holiday with 2 fantastic pools.

The trouble was though that although I had a very long vacation, I didn't see a great deal of France or Spain except when we were travelling. The reason, well I'm sure you can guess. If not here's a clue. I had 2 fantastic swimming pools. I am sure I can describe the swimming pools better than the countryside local to where I stayed. I'll have to go back next year and try again but I know I'll be distracted by the swimming pools when choosing somewhere to stay. Then again I could try a mountain cabin with a lake to swim in. That's something I've always thought would be fun. It's a tough choice, lake or swimming pool. Maybe I can try both or better still perhaps its time I built my own swimming pool at home.

Prevent Summertime Swimming Pool Accidents and Liability

Swimming pools are becoming an increasingly popular amenity in homes new and old, and represent an activity that is especially enjoyable in the summertime. Unfortunately, pools can also be extremely dangerous, particularly for small and unsupervised children. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages one to four have the highest drowning rates, most of which occur in residential swimming pools. Approximately 300 children under the age of five die from pool-related accidents each year, and 2,000 more young children are hospitalized for submersion injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident or if a person has suffered injury or death while swimming in your pool, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.

Factors That Influence Drowning Risk

There are a number of important factors that influence drowning risk and should be taken into consideration when preventing summertime swimming pool accidents and pool owner liability. It important for both parents and pool owners to consider all aspects of pool safety before allowing children, adolescents or adults access to swimming pools.

• Lack of Supervision and Barriers

It is extremely important for young children and even
adults to be supervised when participating in swimming pool activities, whether by a professional lifeguard, parent or guardian. In addition, barriers like pool fencing should be used to prevent young children from gaining access to a pool area without the awareness or supervision of a caregiver. According to CDC statistics, there is an 83% reduction in the risk of childhood drowning with a four-sided isolation pool fence, compared to the three-sided property line fencing.

• Lack of Life Jacket Use

Although life jacket use is typically more strictly enforced during boating activities or while swimming in lakes or rivers, small children and even adolescents or adults may also benefit from using a life jacket while swimming in a residential pool.

• Alcohol Use

Up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation involve alcohol use. Alcohol can severely affect judgment, balance and coordination, and its effects are heightened by heat and sun exposure, making it especially dangerous during pool use.

• Seizure Disorders

Drowning is the most common cause of unintentional injury and death among individuals with seizure disorders.

Consequences Associated with Swimming Pool Accidents and Injuries

In 2007, there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, which translates to an average of ten deaths per day. Even nonfatal drownings can have severe consequences, potentially resulting in brain damage and long-term disabilities like permanent loss of basic functioning, memory problems and learning disabilities. According to the CDC, more than 55% of drowning victims treated in the emergency room require further hospitalization or transfer for higher levels of care. The injuries associated with swimming pool accidents can be severe, and the medical costs associated with pool accidents and injuries can also be quite high. During the initial hospitalization alone, medical costs can reach $2,000 even for victims who recover fully. For swimming pool accident victims who suffer severe injuries like brain damage, medical costs can skyrocket to $80,000.

How to Prevent Swimming Pool Accidents

The CDC provides tips to pool owners and users which can help prevent swimming pool accidents, injuries and death.

• Learn to swim properly. According to research, receiving formal swimming lesson instruction can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged one to four years.
• Designate a responsible adult to watch children in and around the water. Children should be within touch of this person at all times. Adults should not be engaged in other activities while watching children near a pool, including reading, talking on the phone, etc.
• Always swim with a buddy and/or swim within sight of a lifeguard when possible.
• Learn CPR. The faster a bystander's response time, the better chance the victim has of surviving.
• Do not use foam toys in place of life jackets. Noodles and inner tubes are not designed to keep a child safe, and may instill a false sense of security when a child is playing in a swimming pool.
• Avoid alcohol use before and during pool-side supervision.

How to Prevent Owner Liability in Swimming Pool Accidents

If you have a pool at home, you are responsible for taking the appropriate measures to make the area as safe as possible. The first step you should take in pool ownership is to install four-sided fencing around the pool so that the house and play area of the yard are completely separated from the pool area. The fence should be at least four feet high and should employ self-latching gates that open outward with latches that are out of reach of children. You may also consider installing additional pool barriers like automatic door locks or alarms to prevent unauthorized pool access or to alert you if someone enters the pool area. Another step to take to prevent swimming pool accidents and injuries is to clear the pool and pool deck of toys. Floats, balls and other toys should be removed from the pool and surrounding area immediately after use so that children aren't tempted to re-enter the pool area without supervision.

Most young children who drown in swimming pools were last seen in their home, had been out of sight for less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time they were last seen. Many communities have established safety regulations governing residential swimming pools; in addition to these regulations, parents and pool owners can take their own precautions to reduce the chances of unsupervised children gaining access to swimming pool areas. If your child has suffered serious injury or death as a result of a swimming pool accident, contact a personal injury attorney, as you may be entitled to financial compensation for your child's injuries and the pain and suffering endured by you and your family. If you are a pool owner and an accident occurred at your residence, there are steps you can take to avoid facing owner liability for injuries incurred. With the help of a qualified personal injury lawyer, you can be aware of your legal options and ensure that your rights are adequately protected.

Swimming Pools Designs - What Style is the Best Choice For You?

Types Of Swimming Pools

A home swimming pool could be a fantastic refuge for weary family members. It is the one place where we all wish to be on a hot day. Swimming is a calming exercise, as well as a healthy one, for individuals of all age groups. In addition, a nicely created swimming pool adds class as well as value to any home.

But what type of pool should you put in?

You will find numerous options to consider. Here are probably the most common options:

Swimming Pools Designs: Above Ground: 

Above ground swimming pools are the simplest to build and the cheapest to buy, as they come as pre-made kits. They are the summer-fun answer for those who don't wish to make the larger commitment of an in-ground swimming pool. If you're not yet ready for a permanent structure in your yard, then an above-ground may be the way to go.

Here are the above ground swimming pool tidbits to think about:

Quick to install: Grab a few handy neighbors and you can be hosting a pool party in just a few days.

Moveable: Should you move, you can take your pool with you, give it to a friend or even sell it. Or you can leave it as a gain for the next owner of your home.

Choices: You are able to choose from aluminum, resin or steel sidings. All 3 types have numerous benefits, ranging from rust-resistance to average life-span. Your local dealer can help you to weigh the pros and cons of each kind.

Affordable: Above-grounds are excellent for those searching for a fairly affordable way to provide years of backyard family entertainment.

Great for Small Lots: If getting a back-hoe into your yard might be next-to-impossible, an above-ground can usually be carried in a kit to your yard and set up.

Variety: Above-grounds come in several sizes and shapes, and a range of decorative wall patterns and decking choices.

Swimming Pools Designs: Below Ground: 

Fiberglass: 

Fiberglass pools are built utilizing molded fiberglass, reinforced plastic. Fiberglass pools are in ground, and can provide you years and years of family fun and swimming pleasure. Fundamentally, a fiberglass swimming pool is similar to a giant bathtub.

Here are fiberglass pool tidbits to think about:

Installation: As soon as your yard has been excavated, the swimming pool is delivered in one piece and set up. Building time is usually about two weeks.

Cost: Fiberglass pools are usually more expensive to purchase than concrete inground pools, but can save you money over the life of the pool. This is simply because they usually will require fewer chemicals than concrete pools. You also avoid upcoming replastering and liner replacement expenses.

Shock absorbent: What happens if the earth moves? Fiberglass has a shock-absorbing capability that allows it to bend up to 2 feet. However, there also are new concrete building methods that allow concrete to flex. So, it's important to remember that if you live in an earthquake-prone region, be certain to have your dealer explain the features and benefits of fiberglass and concrete construction.

Maintenance: Unlike a plaster finish, a fiberglass shell doesn't change the chemistry of the water, so you often will use much less acid. Simply because of the non-porous surface, you do not need to brush the pool nearly as often as a plaster-finished concrete swimming pool. However, you typically do not need to brush a pebble-finish concrete pool as frequently as a plaster-finish pool, so when discussing this choice with a dealer, be sure you're comparing apples to apples.

Vinyl: 

Vinyl lined swimming pools would be the cheapest kinds of in ground styles you can get, even though you will need to have the liner replaced every ten years or so.

A vinyl-liner swimming pool typically is shipped from the manufacturer in kit form. After excavation, the panel walls are bolted or fastened together and supported at the bottom by a concrete footing. The vinyl liner is spread over the interior of the swimming pool and covers the excavated floor and paneled walls. It is connected to the top of the panel walls by a vinyl rib at the outside edge of the liner. Be sure to ask your liners usually have to be replaced in your area of the country. Construction time for vinyl-liner swimming pools is usually one to three weeks.

The 10 Most Common Swimming Pool Dangers

In the back of their minds, all swimming pool owners know the risk of having a silent, lurking body of water in the back yard. Even more so for families with children, a swimming pool can be a silent killer. Consider this top ten list of the most common, and most dangerous swimming pool deficiencies:

10) Electrical

Proper electrical wiring for a swimming pool and all its components is critical since water, electricity and people are a dangerous mix. Swimming pools, and all metal components within one meter of the water line should be bonded with a heavy ground wire loop. Additionally all electrical devices that come into close contact with water such as pumps and lights must be properly connected with a GFIC or ground fault interrupter.

9) Slippery Decks

As swimming pool deck surfaces age and weather they will develop algae and become very slippery, especially in wet conditions. To reduce the likelihood of falling or slipping on a pool deck, you should pressure wash your deck yearly. Additionally a silica sand can be added to your concrete sealer to provide a more textured and slip resistant surface.

8) Ladders & Stairs

Stairs and ladders are a very common place for injury in a swimming pool. Coloured nosing tile is used to accentuate step edges in many pools, which helps to define the step edges under the moving water. The likelihood for a fall or injury increases at night, and also even more so if there is no underwater swimming pool light to illuminate the water. Ladders often have hand rails installed into the pool deck which can become loose over time. If the ladder rails shift as you are climbing out of the water, this will greatly increase the risk of a fall.

7) Water Quality

Do not underestimate your green swimming pool. Harmful bacteria can reside in poorly maintained water. It is critical to ensure that the water quality is suitable for swimming to prevent infections and staph infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat. Chemical levels in the water can also affect those prone to skin reactions.

6) Chemical Storage

Your swimming pool chemicals are a potent mix of strong acids, alkalines and poisons. Even worse is that many of these chemicals specifically react with one another, yet they are often stored in the same location with little effort to keep them safe. Chemicals should be researched and stored in a controlled, dry and locked location at all times.

5) Pool Winter Covers

Winterization covers are often just large tarps stretched over the pool with sand or water bags pinning them down at the edges. These are not strong enough to support the weight of a medium pet or small child without pulling into the pool. They can look tempting to walk on, but any person or animal that walks out onto a swimming pool winter cover is in serious jeopardy.

4) Suction Lines

The swimming pool suction points, most commonly the skimmer and the main drain are directly connected to the front of powerful swimming pool pumps. The power of a pool pump is more than enough the cause sever and life threatening injury. The warning label that comes on new main drains, skimmers and pool pumps states that the pool pump has enough force to trap, drown and disembowel you should you unwittingly cover the suction point with any part of your body. Tragically every year more children are killed this way from single suction main drains which are now illegal. Dual suction main drains spaced apart are now required so that you can not cover both suction points at the same time. Proper use of main drain lids is critical to ensure the safety of your swimmers.

3) Pool Toys

A surprisingly common source for swimming pool related accidents is a result of swimming pool toys which are not suitable for use in a pool. Some floatation devices can cause young swimmers to flip over and get trapped upside down under the water. Large innertubes or inflatable boats are prime examples of items better suited for the beach.

2) Pool Slides 

Swimming pool slides seem like a good idea when you consider children playing in the pool. At the same time, a pool slide is literally like letting your children play on a 9 foot tall ladder overtop of concrete. Pool slides are less and less common these days, and for good reason as they are the second most common cause of serious injury in a swimming pool.

1) Diving Boards

By far the most dangerous element to your swimming pool is the diving board. The vast majority of swimming pools are not deep enough for a diving board. The risk of spinal and head trauma are extremely high in pools less than nine feet deep, which most are. Even a moderately steep dive will cause a collision at the bottom for the swimmer, and the long slope of the pool shallow end is a tricky obstacle to avoid when pulling up from the dive. Removing the diving board from your pool and encouraging a no diving policy will decrease the likelihood of a swimming pool accident or injury by as much as 50%.

Remember - these swimming pool dangers relate to the average swimmer, but an unused pool can be just as deadly. Be sure to install an automatic swimming pool safety cover to take the single most proactive step towards increasing the safety of your swimming pool.

Swimming Pool Designs for Maximum Fun and Enjoyment

The first thing you need to consider when designing your pool is its intended use. Do you want to swim laps, do physical therapy, exercise, entertain guests, let the kids have some fun, or impress your neighbors? After all, you want to get a pool for a reason or a multitude of reasons to enhance your life. A pool's intended use has arguably the greatest impact on the way it should be designed, and therefore, the needs and wants your swimming pool is intended to fulfill should be identified very early in the design process. It is also useful to recognize the pool's primary functions to help you narrow down your design choices. In the following sections we'll go over some of the most popular benefits people get from owning a pool, and how these impact the swimming pool's design.

Fun and Leisure:

The most frequent motive for obtaining a swimming pool is for family fun and leisure. A backyard pool is a great place to cool off during the summer, have fun with the kids and throw some inflatable toys around. If this is your only reason for wanting a pool, then the simplest, least expensive swimming pool designs will suffice. If your budget is large, then you may want to invest in some luxury, but otherwise an above-ground pool or a shallow in-ground pool would be enough to meet your needs. A pool that's at a constant depth of 4 feet is sufficiently deep to splash around and swim the occasional lap in, but also shallow enough to provide safety for the whole family.

Exercise:

If you want to use your pool for some serious exercise, then the dimensions of your pool require more critical consideration. For lap swimming, a pool at least 25 feet long and 3.5 feet deep is recommended, with typical lengths ranging form 25 to 40 feet. There are also dedicated lap pools that are relatively very narrow, and therefore fit in constrained spaces. Water aerobics require some more depth to avoid touching bottom. Typically a section of the pool that's 5 to 6 feet deep is enough for this purpose.
Another option for swimmers is the swim spa, which is a small pool, usually no more than about 12 feet in length that can generate a strong current to swim against. One can then swim against the current while remaining in place. Their small size also makes the installation of indoor swim spas a very viable option in many cases.

Parties and Entertaining Guests:

If pool parties are in your future you may have a few other design issues to think about. These largely involve the landscaping and design of the area surrounding the pool. You may want to surround the pool with a patio or a deck, add a pool house, a gazebo, an outdoor bar, furniture, etc. In addition, you may want the pool itself to be designed for looks, with a stylish shape, rather than just for functionality. Carefully hiding pool equipment will also make the pool area more appealing.

Relaxation:

Spending time at your pool can be very relaxing, and the proper amenities will make it even more enjoyable. An addition of a spa or a hot tub to the pool area is a great complement to the swimming pool itself. Like pools, these come in the in-ground, and portable, above-ground varieties. An in-ground spa is typically connected to the pool's filtration and heating systems. And if that's not the case, a portable spa is a much more economical option.

If you're going to spend time pool-side sunbathing, be sure to leave the space for it. And if you opt for the above-ground pool variety, the addition of a sizable pool level deck makes great sense.

Jerry Westly is an avid swimmer and swimming pool enthusiast who writes his thoughts on building and maintaining the perfect backyard swimming pool on Swimming-Pool-Designs.com Please visit the site for tips and advice on topics such as inground swimming pools, above ground swimming pools, swimming pool covers and much more.