Enjoy Your Pool Safely and Be Sure Your Summer Pool is Fun

It is getting hot. It is time to open the pool. There is more to that than opening the gate and calling for a free for all. It means cleaning and chemicals and safeguards.

With eight grandchildren, all clamoring for the pool to be set-up our top priority is always safety. With the little ones ages ranging from newborn to 9 years old, naturally they can't all swim. We keep an assortment of swimsuits with built-in floats available for any little visitors that might stop by and want a dip in the pool. In addition to safe swimwear, we always have a wide variety of floating devices available, from arm floats to loungers to keep everyone safe. Floating devices or not, you can never turn your back on the little ones for a minute in the pool.

From the minute the pool is ready to use, the area is a bustling mix of friends and family. The children have their pool parties for birthdays and over-night camp-outs, their parents have their barbeques with friends, that usually bring more children and we old folks enjoy any activity that brings family home. What more could one ask for than to watch the generations grow in healthy, happy harmony.

The happy squeals of laughter as the noodles, water guns and balls splash can be heard all over the neighborhood. This brings up another safety issue. Don't think for a minute that these sounds are not like a magnet to neighborhood children. Even when the fun is over for you and your family, secure your pool. You never know when a little one will stray from home, looking for the source of the splashing and fun.

I can't imagine a better way to get a low impact workout than a refreshing dip in the pool. Within days of setting up the pool and using it, you can feel the difference in your stamina. Your energy level is noticeably raised and your lungs will thank you. Of course, there is always Grandma's own floating device available for those times that call for a relaxing float in the pool, daiquiri in hand.

Whether you are floating leisurely along or having a hardy swim don't forget the sunscreen. A good waterproof sunscreen is essential. Even then, you should apply sunscreen or sunblock often and liberally. When choosing a sunscreen or sunblock check to be sure that it protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Safety first is a good motto when choosing a product to protect your skin against the dangerous rays the sun can offer. We women of vanity can all relate to wrinkles, but there is much more at stake here than our attempts to be beautiful. Your health depends on your attention to your skin in the sun.

Some think the work involved in having a pool is not worth the trouble. I will have to differ. I think the initial set-up of the season might take a little work, just consider it its own form of exercise. After the set-up is complete, there are extra towels to wash, occasional skimming and vacuuming, but after all, your energy level is raised so that you won't even notice the extra work. What is one more load of towels against hours of relaxing, refreshing family fun?

In closing, when you begin to think about a pool, think primarily of safety. Whether you think of your children, grandchildren, neighbors or your own safety, fun will not be fun anymore if disaster strikes. Monitor your pool carefully, get plenty of exercise, protect your skin and have lots of summer fun.