Community Pool Safety Tips – Making It A Safe Memorial Day Weekend

water safety 2013Memorial Day Weekend is upon us.  Many families visit indoor and outdoor public pools and spas during the summer swimming season and year-round. Public pool and spa owners and operators should follow local, state and federal regulations to ensure the safety of their facilities.

By checking to see if a public pool or spa is using appropriate water safety practices, you can further assure the safety of you, your family and your community. These are helpful questions to ask when you and your family visit a public pool or spa:

Having the Appropriate Equipment

  • Are there fences that limit access to the pool and spa?
  • Has the pool or spa been inspected to ensure it is compliant with federal and local laws and regulations?
  • Are the new safety drain covers being used in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act?
  • Do pool and spa pumps appear to be running?
  • Is there life-saving equipment such as life rings and reaching poles available for use?

Staying Close, Being Alert and Watching Children in and Around the Pool

  • Is there a lifeguard at the pool or spa to watch children and adults?
  • Are you watching your own child or children when they’re in or around the water?
  • Are there water safety rules posted in a visible area for adults and children to review?
  • Is there sufficient staff to monitor the pool or spa when it’s in heavy use?
  • Is there a charged phone close by at all times?

Learning and Practicing Water Safety Skills

  • Do you and your children know how to swim?
  • Is the staff trained and certified in first aid and emergency response?
  • Do you know how to perform CPR on children and adults? Are those skills updated regularly?
  • Do you understand the basics of life-saving, so you can assist in a pool emergency?

This weekend is the start of the summertime pool season.  Everyone needs to do their part to make this year the safest yet.  Let’s make it a wonderful and SAFE 2013.

The AquaClimb Team

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What Makes An AquaClimb An AquaClimb?

The Reaction from Patrons and Aquatic Facility Directors

 Many companies try to present their products and services on their technical merit.  We at AquaClimb could do this but always wanted to take a different approach.  The technical stuff is provided on our website and can be viewed at any time.  We want to share the “experience” you will have with your new AquaClimb poolside climbing wall.

 Aqua_Cottonwood_ (101)The first question for a perspective buyer is the value that is generated from the purchase of the AquaClimb.  Gary Ristow from Lenexa Parks and Recreation purchased his first AquClimb wall in 2010 and his second in 2012.  According to Gary the AquaClimb “Offers a lot of play value for the investment”

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May Is National Water Safety Month – What You Should Know

What You Can Do

What You Can Do

As a swimming pool owner or operator, you know that safety is of the utmost importance, especially if you have young kids using your pool. While it’s crucial to be vigilant about water safety all year long, according to Safe Kids USA, drowning incidents increase by 89 percent from May through August. That’s why May has been named National Water Safety Month, which reminds parents, educators, kids and professionals about the importance of playing it safe in the pool.

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Swimming pools in Springfield set attendance record for 3rd straight year

A food donation program also showed an increase this year.

October 04, 2012|edited news release by Jenny Edwards, Springfield-Greene County Parks Department

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For the third summer in a row, Springfield-Greene County Parks Department swimming pools set attendance records.  Official pool attendance during the 2012 season was 98,331 — a 10.4-percent increase over 2011, despite Doling Pool beingclosed this summer due to reconstruction.

Includes 3 Wide AquaClimb

Includes 3 Wide AquaClimb

Attendance increased at all six remaining outdoor pools, but nowhere so much as Westport Pool, where attendance more than doubled to 14,875 during the first season after major renovation.

Unusually high temperatures in June and July contributed to the jump in attendance.  Extended pool hours — more than ever before — and a new maintenance schedule staggered to allow swimming seven days a week also helped enhance attendance.  Admission to the Chesterfield Indoor Aquatics Center was also available at outdoor pool prices this year.

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AquaClimb – Poolside Climbing Walls April News You Can Use

 

News You Can Use        

The goal of the AquaClimb news letter is to provide you with current, relevant and applicable information you can apply to your aquatic facility.  Each facility is unique and we would love to hear about the topics you would like to learn more about in the upcoming issues.  This is our Inaugural edition and we want your feedback so we can incorporate it into next months edition. Email us your topic at info@AquaClimb.com

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Boulder City Pool and Racquetball Complex to offer the first Aquaclimb Krystal 5-High poolside climbing wall in Southern Nevada!

 Submitted By: Sheri O’Berto – Aquatics Coordinator Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department

This summer, 2013, the Boulder City Pool will add a splash of fun to the dive tank.   After losing its 3m dive board last summer due to national concerns regarding liability and insurance, followed by a request from the City insurance carrier for removal of the 3m board, the Boulder City Pool needed to add something to keep its users, especially youth and young adults, engaged, and entertained.  The solution:  the AquaClimb Krystal

!st AquaClimb 5-High in Nevada

!st AquaClimb 5-High in Nevada

poolside climbing wall.  Two climbing walls will rise out of the water, allowing for approximately 16.4’ each, of vertical climbing, allowing participants to climb to the top, and then jump off feet first. The AquaClimb walls lean out over the water at a 13 degree angle ensuring a safe re-entry into the pool.  People of all ages can “rock climb” in a safe environment, while cooling off on those hot days.  A fall means an easy drop into the cool waters of the dive tank and a sense of accomplishment after reaching the top.  Unlike a traditional land based rock climbing walls, there are no safety ropes, repelling harnesses or carabineers needed to scale the 16.4’ poolside climbing wall.  This is one of the latest crazes in the water aquatics industry, and the Boulder City pool is the first pool in Nevada to have the five high model!

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Official Press Release – AquaClimb Krystal 3-D Ice Panels

AquaClimb Poolside Adventures_logo-larger

 

 

For Immediate Release                                                                       March 26, 2013

Aquatic Feature Manufacturer Introduces Clear 3-D Climbing Panels:

Adds Contours and Re-configurability to Enhance Poolside Climbing Experience

Frederick, MD March 26, 2013– Pyramide USA Inc., the designer and manufacturer of AquaClimb poolside climbing walls, announces the new 3-D Krystal Ice panel. This unique development transforms an otherwise flat polycarbonate sheet into a contoured three dimensional climbing surface and increases functionality, because the panels can be flipped over and rotated in any direction to completely re-configure the climbing wall. Click here to see pictures

Part of the challenge and fun of rock climbing is the search for random hand and foot holds. This requires the climber to utilize problem solving skills as well as physical effort. AquaClimb Krystal was introduced in 2012 due to a demand for a clear pool climbing wall, but the flat panel’s limited options for users and aquatic managers. The first 3-D Krystal Ice panel prototypes, produced in Hanover, PA on March 15, 2013 and is now ready for production.

The major benefits of the new panels are the more realistic activity for climbers, while providing facility owners the ability to rearrange and rotate panels and climbing holds to create a new experience for returning patrons.  Bob Aker the Assistant Director of the JCC, Milwaukee who currently has the Ascent 3-D fiberglass panels on his wall said “We rotated the panels and the whole wall will have a new feel this summer.  We may be doing this each year from now on.”  This ability assists the facility owners in keeping the water feature fresh and interesting.  According to Pyramide’s CEO, Russell Moy “The 3-D surface makes a big difference. It greatly enhances the climbing experience and provides a truer climbing event.”

The contoured polycarbonate panel was achieved through AquaClimb teaming with a industry leading plastics manufacturer, molding experts and civil engineers.  According to Mr. Moy, “There is no challenge that ingenuity, drive and teamwork cannot overcome.” Customer input was also a key factor in the development of this product.  “Customers appreciated the clear panels but also wanted the shapes and re-configurability of our fiberglass Ascent and Canyon models.” Mr. Moy stated.  For more information regarding poolside climbing walls and other beneficial aquatic topics visit the AquaClimb blog by clicking here.

About AquaClimb

AquaClimb has been the industry leader in aquatic climbing walls since its inception in 2004, bringing aquatic climbing walls to over 450 facilities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.  More information is available at the AquaClimb website at http://www.aquaclimb.com

If you would like more information or to schedule an interview with CEO, Russell Moy contact Patrick Zaharoff at (240) 446-9800.  pat@aquaclimb.com

XXX

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How to “Cool” Your Hot Pool Deck This Summer

AquaClimb Krystal 3-D Ice

AquaClimb Krystal 3-D Ice

Spring is officially upon us and it’s time to start getting the pool ready for its Memorial Day debut.  Paint, check.  Pressure washer, check.  Maintenance work, check. Lifeguards hired, check.  New pool feature, whoops.  Today, pools are no longer allowed to be just pools.  Customers are looking for an aquatic experience.  Whether it’s a Wibit Inflatable, Slide, AquaClimb or other feature, your pool needs something to stand out.

After much success in launching the flagship AquaClimb Ascent poolside climbing wall in 2005 and the Krystal clear panel model in 2011 the AquaClimb team wanted to raise the bar on the poolside climbing experience yet again.  The difference between the Ascent and Standard Krystal models was the climbing surface being flat versus three-dimensional.  According to AquaClimb CEO, Russell Moy “The 3-D surface makes a huge difference greatly enhancing the climbing experience and providing a truer climbing event.”

How to transform the AquaClimb Krystal into an even greater climbing experience similar to the industry leaders Ascent model was the challenge for the AquaClimb team. Teaming with industry experts in plastics, engineering and production, AquaClimb was able to achieve their goal, the NEW Krystal 3D ‘Ice’ Panel.  “There is no challenge that ingenuity and drive cannot overcome” according to Mr. Moy.

The AquaClimb Krystal 3-D ‘Ice’ will add a cooling effect to the hottest pool decks.  Once

Ice for the pool deck

Ice for the pool deck

you see these panels in person, you will understand why a three dimensional world is so much better than a single plane flat world.  Customer input was a key factor in the development of this product.  Mr. Moy feels “Providing the products that our customers want is paramount to keeping up with an ever changing industry” Here’s to the launch of the new AquaClimb 3-D Ice poolside-climbing wall for 2013. Every panel looks like it was individually carved from a block of Ice and what a juxtaposition to the hot summer days at the pool side.

 

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AquaClimb Releases Poolside Climbing Wall Depth Requirements Planning Chart

AquaClimb® Pool Depth Guidelines

 

 

Water Depth Drives AquaClimb® Poolside Climbing Wall Height

By Russell Moy, President & CEO AquaClimb

 

What Height AquaClimb Can My Facility Have?

This is the first and most frequently asked question by prospective buyers of AquaClimb poolside climbing walls. It is also the most important of all questions for aquatic professionals to consider when purchasing a climbing wall feature… Poolside climbing walls are a relatively new category in the world of aquatic recreation. We introduced AquaClimb in 2005 and immediately focused on the need for setting safety standards for our unique product.

We began with ANSI’s and NSPI’s standards for diving boards and slides. However, a body falling from a given height is different from a body that has been accelerated by a springboard or slide… To determine adequate pool depth for aquatic walls, it is crucial to first know the height of the climbing surface above the water surface. …The higher the climber, the deeper the plunge and the deeper the water needs to be.

…AquaClimb poolside walls have been installed in virtually every state in the USA and… with over 400 locations across North America and abroad, there has not been a single accident reported… Now in our 8th year we are confident in providing this benchmark of pool depth requirements for aquatic climbing walls…

Click Here for the full article and larger graph image.

 

 

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Community Pool Safety Tips For 2013

To a Safe 2013

Many families visit indoor and outdoor public pools and spas during the summer swimming season and year-round. Public pool and spa owners and operators should follow local, state and federal regulations to ensure the safety of their facilities.

By checking to see if a public pool or spa is using appropriate water safety practices, you can further assure the safety of you, your family and your community. These are helpful questions to ask when you and your family visit a public pool or spa:

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