CDC offers an extensive list of topics. You can simply visit this link, http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/topics/, and expand on any specific topic that may be of interest to you. They include everything from infections or things that can be harmful to people to hos to properly clean surfaces in and around your swimming pool during an accident of any sort.

We wanted to share some of the interesting facts that we learned about healthy swimming and recreational water.

-There are 8.8 million residential and public-use swimming pools in the United States.
-Forty-one percent of children aged 7-17 years, and 17.4% of adults in the United States, swim at least six times per year.
-Because of its resistance to chlorine, Cryptosporidium (Crypto) has become the leading cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with swimming pool venues. Reporting of cryptosporidiosis cases increased 208 percent from 2004 (3,411) to 2008 (10,500).
-Sunburn is a risk factor for both basal cell carcinoma and melanoma (types of skin cancer). In 2003, a total of 45,625 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States, and 7,818 persons died from the disease.

You can read more facts about healthy swimming here: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/fast_facts.html

Treasure Pools and Services, Inc. ensures that all clients understand the importance of certain risks and we do our best to educate each individual to take the necessary precautions. Swimming pools are meant for everyone to enjoy and we are here to help make sure that this is possible! So read a little, educate yourself and grab your bathing suit…it’s time to go swimming!

Disney put together this list of hotels around the U.S that are kid-approved and enjoyable for the whole family. Our favorite has to be Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This is not a long trip for all of our South Florida followers! The swimming pool is designed to look like a Mexican archaeological dig site, the main pool (there are four) at this resort includes a waterslide and a 46-foot Mayan pyramid. How cool?! We cannot stress how important safety is, so make sure to check back to our safety check list blog to ensure that your family is as safe as possible during their vacation.

Check out this Top 8 list and tell us what your favorite family-friendly pool is. http://familyfun.go.com/vacations/8-great-hotel-pools-711316/

We may not realize it; but swimming pools do not just prove harmful to us or our children, but can also cause injury or death to your beloved animals. If a pet unexpectedly falls or jumps into a pool their natural instinct is to head to the nearest edge to try and climb out. This edge may be near, but can be very slippery or even impossible for a dog to lift them self over. In this instance, your pet can become fatigued and exhausted which can lead to great panic. Pets also are typically not able to climb the vertical ladder that may be in the deep end, which leaves one or maybe two exit routes. So all you animal lovers, take a look at these tips and make sure to practice them with your own pets.
• Never leave pets unattended around a pool.
• Fence your pool with a secure gate, and never leave your pet inside the fenced pool area unsupervised.
• Make sure pets can get out of the pool. If a dog jumps or falls in and doesn’t know how to get out without help, it may panic and drown.
• Not all pets are excellent swimmers, so if water is a big part of your family life, introduce pets to water gradually.
• Try not to let pets drink pool water. Chlorine and chemicals used to keep pools free of algae and contaminants can cause pet health problems, such as dry mouth or gastric distress.
• Be mindful of pet swimming precautions and consider safety products available to ensure your pet’s safety.
• Life jackets are available for all sizes of animals.
Even though this story was written a year ago, we should consistently remind ourselves about the importance of the safety of our beloved animals and pets! For more information-take a look at the rest of the article here: http://texasdogsandcats.com/latest-news/swimming-pool-safety-for-your-pets/

Treasure Pools and Services, Inc. specializes in swimming pool resurfacing. They have proven expertise in all aspects of pool remodeling from small, private backyard pools to large community and commercial installations. Whether you want to repair, rebuild, add a spa, update your deck, upgrade your equipment or simply recoat with one of our superior refinishing processes, they do it all!
Craig Cohen, president of Treasure Pools and Service, is a strong believer in providing a special personal touch. That’ s why you will always have a direct line to Craig throughout the entire process of your new pool construction or swimming pool renovation project!
“I stand behind every pool we complete – whether it’s a new construction or a minor rejuvenation – because that’s what my customers deserve,” states Craig. “My personal touch is making sure every customer is 100% satisfied.”

There are also other minor ways to spruce up your swimming pool. You can add LED or fiber optic lights to bring some color or add a water feature. By adding a rock waterfall or a few fountains, this can completely change the look and feel of your pool for you and your guests.

For more ways to give your swimming pool a facelift, check out www.treasurepoolsfl.com or contact Craig Cohen for more information.

Take a look at these key things to make sure that you and your swimming pool provider have them checked off of your swimming pool safety checklist.

1. Drains, Suction Fittings, and Jets –Current gates and covers help prevent body or hair entrapment. Make sure that drain covers meet the ANSI/ASME A112.19.8M standard. Safety doors should be installed in all pool cleaner wall suction lines. Pools, spas, or hot tubs with drain covers that are broken, missing, or not adequately secured should not be used until the proper replacement has been installed.
2. Electrical Hazards – A licensed electrician, experienced in swimming pools and hot tubs, should inspect your equipment to make sure everything is properly grounded, bonded, and protected by proper GFCI circuits according to Article 680 of the National Electric Code.
3. Warning Signs – Protect your family and guests. Make sure that all warning signs provided by the manufacturer, builder, or installer are displayed according to the manufacturers’ specifications.

There are many more precautions that you need to be aware of when owning a swimming pool. You can contact your local swimming pool provider to make sure that you follow these guidelines offered by APSP or check out more items from About.com’s article here.

Lance Armstrong’s Foundation, LIVESTRONG, posted a few great ideas how you can utilize everyday materials or switch up some old childhood games to make some new swimming pool fun.

Here is our favorite…

Cork Collection:
A bucket, corks or other small items that float provide the entertainment for this pool activity. Dump the floating objects into the pool with the players at the opposite end. At the starting signal, swim toward the floating objects and collect as many as possible. The person who collects the most objects wins the game. Consider the age and swimming abilities of the players when deciding where to dump the corks. Stronger swimmers get more of a challenge when the corks are dumped in deeper water.

Check out LIVESTRONG’s article here and tell us what your favorite activity is!

Treasure Pool Builders works with quality vendors to build your dream swimming pool. “We will work with you to design or alter an already existing pool to meet your custom specifications. A part of our services include custom lighting.” shares Craig Cohen, owner of Treasure Pools. You may have this vivid dream that you hope to put into action and Treasure Pools is the right company to help you.

Better yet, let’s hear it from a customer…

“I had six estimates for my swimming pool. Craig Cohen and Treasure Pools were the only ones that called me back religiously, gave me several drawings of my pool (I changed my mind more than once!). Craig was very patient and with his penalty clause and Pay As You Go policy, I felt as if I was not going to get ripped off unlike some other companies. This indeed was the case and I am now the proud owner of a magnificent pool and deck area.” – J. T. M,, Olympia, Wellington

Read more testimonials or get additional information at http://www.treasurepoolsfl.com/Pool_Construction_Customer_Testimonials.html

County officials stated that these drownings can be easily prevented with the proper supervision and swim instruction. Children are never too young to start learning how to swim and about the proper safety steps. Kids can be taught as young as 6 months old. South Florida has announced that March 12th-17th will be swim safety awareness week. YMCA will be offering free demonstrations just in time for Spring Break.

So get ready, jump in and enjoy Spring Break…safely!

For more information check out the recent news clip from News Channel 7 WSVN at http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21006877298559/officials-share-swimming-safety-tips-for-spring-break/

Craig Cohen, owner of Treasure Pools and Services Inc. share that “the most important thing with a new swimming pool is keeping your chemicals balanced. If you are able to keep up with this your finish will last a lot longer, you will not have to redo your pool as often and the chemicals will also maintain the correct water chemistry.” These things can get kind of difficult, but can also be very simple if maintained and up kept properly.

You want to make sure to check and balance everything once a month. Treasure Pools hires a chemical company that comes to your house for a free 30-day trial. He educated the homeowners and makes sure that everything is completely balanced correctly from the beginning. If homeowners choose to keep this service, it will only cost those $75 a month and the pool will always retain the correct chemical balance and be ready for swimming!

Homeowners need to utilize this service when building a pool in order to best prevent damage on decks. Craig Cohen, owner of Treasure Pools, tells his clients during each visit that ‘if this procedure is not completed before construction, then you could possibly run into problems down the road such as deck damage.’ Now, this is not something that will necessarily affect the swimming pool itself, but could result in a very costly repair for the deck. This process is also important for plumbing because the soil is where the pipes are laid. If the dirt sinks, then the pipes can sink which could result in leaks in the plumbing.

Now the question that you may be asking yourself, what is soil compaction?

Soil compaction is defined as the method of mechanically increasing the density of soil. In construction, this is a significant part of the building process. If performed improperly, settlement of the soil could occur and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or structure failure. Almost all types of building sites and construction projects utilize mechanical compaction techniques.