Pool Drowning: Recognition and Rescue

What is pool drowning?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pool drowning is a state in which a person experiences respiratory impairment when submersed or immersed in the pool water. Once a person was submerged into the pool the tendency is that he/she will inhale water rather then air. This is the cause of asphyxiation or the lacking in oxygen that can lead to unconsciousness or death. 

How would you know if a person is drowning?

You would know if a person experienced pool drowning when he or she possesses the following symptoms:

• If the person swims unevenly.
• When removed from the water, his/her ears and lips turned blue.
• The skin is cold and pale.
• The abdomen is bloated.
• Choking and vomiting.
• If the person doesn’t breathe.

What first aid treatment you should do?

1. Immediately remove the patient from the water.

2. Look for a lifeguard or paramedic that will execute the needed treatment.

3. If the trained personnel is not yet coming, you can do the own rescuing. All you have to do is to tilt his/her head slightly back while lying and start the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). 

4. Let someone do the continuous call for a paramedic or other trained personnel that will provide oxygen equipment.

5. If the person isn’t still breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose ventilation.

6. Check on the patient from time to time while waiting for the paramedics.

Pool Safety Precautions

Safety should always be observed in any recreation area especially in the pool. Pool accidents are inevitable however; imposing safety measures in your pool can make pool safety possible.

According to the statistics of Edgar Snyder and Associates, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14 years old. This is indeed alarming news. However, we can prevent it by installing safety pool equipment in our pool.

1. Pool Fence

Edgar Snyder and Associates did a study on different pool supplies that can prevent pool drowning and other related accidents. The result of the study has shown that installing pool fence around the pool area decreases the number of pool drowning injuries and death from 50 to 90 percent. Pool fence prevents kids from getting access in the pool area without adult supervision.

2. Pool Alarm

A pool alarm is also an effective device to prevent pool accidents. This pool device has a censor, which triggers the siren to create an alarming sound once a movement around the pool was detected. Pool alarm is connected to a device inside the house so parents will be informed when a kid is wandering around the pool area thus preventing any untoward incident from happening.

3. Safety Pool Cover

Keeping your pool covered with safety pool cover will also give children no access to the pool. Safety pool cover is made from high-end polyethylene material making it durable enough to withstand heavy-sized individual or thing.

Enjoying swimming with your family and friends is a privilege that all of us are entitled to. But always remember that our safety should not be sacrificed. Imposing safety precautions in the pool is an important thing to do to make swimming season fun and safe.

Swimming is Good for the Health

Swimming is a good form of exercise. Aside from the fun and enjoyment it brings, it also has a lot of health benefits. Regular swimming can help improve you physically, mentally and emotionally. Moreover, keeping your body healthy and fit is the most important benefits of swimming. 

Just like any other form of exercise, swimming requires time, motivation and determination. It has to be performed accurately to gain the benefits you want to get from it. 

Here are the health benefits of swimming:

1. Heart 

Regular swimming helps maintain blood pressure and cholesterol thus keeping your heart strong and healthy. It reduces the risks of stroke, heart attack and other heart diseases.

2. Lungs

Having healthy and strong lungs is necessary. Aside from avoiding smoking and other vices, having regular exercise is advisable. Swimming is one of the exercises that strengthens the lungs as well as maintaining good breathing for healthier body and cardio-vascular endurance.

3. Joints and Muscles

Swimming enhances joints flexibility and strengthens the muscles for stronger physical health. It helps improve your physical well-being so you can withstand everyday strenuous 

activities.

4. Unwanted body fats

Indulging yourself to regular swimming can also remove all the unwanted fats in your body. Swimming burns fats and calories just as effective as aerobics and other workouts. So if you are having a hard time shaping up your body, why won’t you try swimming?

5. Pregnant Women

Swimming is also a good exercise for pregnant women. Since they are not allowed to do strenuous exercises, spending at least an hour of swimming strengthens the abdominal and shoulder muscles. It also relieves joint pains, back pains and other discomfort that pregnant women experience.

6. Stress

Relaxing in a cool pool water also helps reduce stress brought by mind-draining works. This perfectly works at night before you go to sleep or during weekends. 

Pool Opening is as Easy as 1, 2, 3

Summer is fast-approaching and pool owners should get their pool ready for the coming swimming season. I bet your pool is currently on the pool closing state. Winter pool cover still hides the crystal clear water while pool-lovers look forward for the pool opening.

Just as laborious as pool closing, pool opening requires a lot of patience and diligence. If you are having a hard time looking for ways on how to open your pool, here are some steps which you can do to make pool opening as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Drain the water off the top surface of the winter pool cover. You can use pool cover pump to eliminate the water for easier pool cover removal. Also, remove all the dirt and debris that have accumulate on the pool cover. 

2. Carefully remove the pool cover avoiding damages on its surface. Clean and dry it up first before you store it to prolong its product life.

3. Reconnect the pool equipment such as pool pump, pool heater and pool filter. Rest the circuit if you turned off the power breaker to the pool pump and heater. Filtration hoses should also be reconnected and all valves should be opened. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines in performing this step.

4. Once all the equipment are reconnected, add more water to the pool. Since you lessen the water when you started pool closing, you need to increase the water up to the desired level.

5. Clean the pool and adjust the pH level of the water. Use pool vacuum to eliminate all the dirt and debris that have penetrated the water during the winter season. Brush off dirt from pool walls and bottoms as well as the ladders and decks. Using a pH testing kit, check the pH level of the water and adjust it if needed. Add pool chlorine to kill all the germs and bacteria making the pool safe to use this summer. You can also install new pool liner to enhance the look of your pool for the summer season.