By Carol Eustice, About.com Guide

Most recreational water illness (RWI) reported is diarrheal illness, which is spread by swallowing contaminated water. In addition, swimming in contaminated water can also cause infections in:

• the eyes
• the nose
• the ears
• open wounds, cuts and scrapes

People in the pool share the water with everyone else in the pool. If someone with diarrhea contaminates the water, swallowing the water can make people sick. Recreational water can also be contaminated by fecal matter rinsed off of the bodies of swimmers. When people are ill with diarrhea their stool can contain millions of germs. Therefore, swimming when ill with diarrhea can easily contaminate the water and, if the pool water is swallowed, can make you sick.

How does water get contaminated?

Pools can be contaminated by persons who swim while experiencing diarrhea and have a fecal accident. Swimming pools, waterparks, hot tubs, and spas can also be contaminated by germs that are rinsed off swimmer’s bodies including their rear ends. In addition, lakes, rivers, and the ocean can be contaminated by sewage spills, animal waste, and water runoff.  Diarrrheal accidents are not easily noticed and as a result could contaminate even the best-maintained pool. Plus, some germs like Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium) are resistant to chlorine and can live in even the best-maintained pools for several days.

What kinds of illnesses can people get from swimming?

These RWIs have been linked to swimming.

• Diarrheal illness
• Skin rashes
• Ear infections
• Eye infections
• Respiratory infections

Reports to CDC show that diarrhea is one of the most common RWIs. Diarrheal illness is spread when infected germs from human or animal feces gets into the water. If the contaminated water is swallowed it can cause people to become ill.

Can swimming pools spread head lice?

Not likely. Lice survive by holding onto hair and are not likely to let go when someone’s head goes under water. It would be rare to find lice floating in pool water. It is more likely that head lice are spread by sharing towels or other items that have been in contact with an infested person’s hair. Teach your children not to share towels, hair brushes, etc., either at poolside or changing rooms.

Be aware that swimming or washing hair within 1-2 days after treating with anti-lice shampoo will make the treatment less effective. For more information: Headlice

Can people get a RWI from swimming in the ocean?

Yes. RWIs have been associated with swimming at ocean beaches. Some common germs can live for long periods of time in salt water. Swimmers should always avoid swallowing the water that they and others swim in.

Can people get a RWI from swimming in fresh water lakes and rivers?

Yes. Lakes and rivers can become contaminated with germs from:

• sewage
• animal waste
• water runoff
• direct human contamination from fecal accidents
• germs rinsed off the bottoms of swimmers

Avoid swimming in areas that have been identified as unsafe by health departments. Contact your state or local health department about germ-testing results for local recreational water.

Some germs that live in fresh water normally don’t infect humans. For example, Naegleria is a germ that is found throughout the world. Naegleria is found in warm, stagnant bodies of water and can cause severe illness. Naegleria enters the body through the nose when you are swimming underwater or diving into water. Persons can prevent Naegleria infection by not swimming in small shallow ponds or areas posted by local health authorities as “No Swimming.” Swimmers should hold their nose or use nose plugs when jumping or diving into water. For more information: Naegleria

Can people get a RWI from using hot tubs and spas?

Yes. Skin infections are the most common RWI spread through hot tubs and spas. Given that hot tubs and spas have warmer water than pools, chlorine or other disinfectant levels evaporate faster. For that reason, it is important that chlorine or disinfectant levels in hot tubs and spas are checked even more regularly than in swimming pools.

Can people get a RWI from playing in fountains?

Yes. Several diarrheal illness outbreaks have been caused by playing and swallowing contaminated water in fountains. Not all decorative or interactive water fountains are chlorinated and filtered. Therefore when people, especially diaper-aged children, play in or soak themselves with the water jets, they can contaminate the water with fecal matter. This may spread germs that can make people sick.

Doesn’t chlorine kill all germs found in swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas?

Yes, chlorine does kill all germs but it takes time.

A few germs can survive in chlorinated water for several hours to several days in pools, hot tubs, and spas and you can therefore get infected. It is important to maintain proper levels of chlorine to kill germs. However, be aware that even the best-maintained pools can spread illness.

What is a person’s chance of getting diarrhea when swimming?

An exact number does not exist.

If pools are properly maintained and chlorinated, the risk is thought to be low for germs that are killed easily by chlorine. However, over the past 10 years, more than 150 outbreaks involving thousands of people have been reported, involving pools, waterparks, hot tubs, spas, lakes, and rivers. Many outbreaks are never detected.

Why do many recreational water illnesses (RWIs) go undetected?

Because people do not think that pool water can make them sick.

It can take several weeks before the germs in the water cause illness, so people often don’t connect their illness with swimming. In addition, because diarrhea is so common, most people don’t seek medical attention for it, so outbreaks of illnesses often don’t get reported to health departments.

The longer the time period between swimming and illness the less likely people are to think that they became sick from swimming. For all these reasons, many outbreaks go undetected.

Is it a good idea to swim when you have diarrhea?

No. You share the water with everyone in the pool, so swimming when ill with diarrhea can contaminate the water.

Stay out of water that is shared by others if you have diarrhea. Persons who swim while they have diarrhea threaten the health and well being of those sharing the water. This is true because recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are more easily spread when someone is experiencing diarrhea.

Should some people be more concerned than others about the spread of Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium)?

Yes. Every swimmer should be concerned, but those living with a compromised immune system should be even more concerned.

They should realize that accidentally swallowing Crypto-contaminated water can cause illness. Children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems (such as those living with AIDS, those who have received an organ transplant, or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy) can suffer from more severe illness than others.

So people with compromised immune systems are at greater risk for developing severe or life-threatening illness?

Yes. If you are living with a compromised immune system (such as those living with AIDS, those who have received an organ transplant, or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy) you are at greater risk of developing severe or life-threatening illness if infected with Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium).

Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) can be spread by swallowing fecally contaminated water. Persons with compromised immune systems should be aware that swimming pools, waterparks, hot tubs, spas, decorative fountains, lakes, rivers, and salt water beaches might be contaminated with human or animal waste that contains Crypto.

According to the 1999 USPHS/IDSA Guidelines for Prevention of Opportunistic Infections in Persons with HIV, people with a compromised immune system should consult with their health care provider before participating in behaviors that place them at risk for illness. Avoid swallowing the water when swimming or playing in recreational water. For more information:Preventing Cryptosporidiosis

What should someone do if he or she has diarrhea?

Most important, prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.

This is especially important for young children, pregnant women, and persons living with compromised immune systems (such as those living with AIDS, those who have received and organ transplant, or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy).

Seek Medical Care Immediately If:

• your diarrhea is bloody
• your diarrhea does not resolve in 5 days
• your diarrhea is accompanied by fever or chills
• you are dehydrated. (signs of dehydration include: dry or “cottony” mouth, cracked lips, dry flushed skin, headache, irritability, not urinating at least four times a day, no tears when crying, no sweating, or confusion).

A health care provider may prescribe medicine to help replace the fluids your body has lost because of the diarrhea. In some cases, over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications slow the diarrhea.

One of the germs that causes diarrhea is Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium). Health care providers do not routinely test for this germ. Therefore, persons experiencing diarrhea may have to ask their health care providers to test for Crypto. Be aware that there are many causes of diarrhea. A specific diagnosis can only be made by your health care provider.

Remember, for the health and safety of those sharing the pool water, don’t swim when you have diarrhea. Diarrhea can contaminate the pool and make people sick.

What if my child has diarrhea?

Don’t take your child swimming.

Otherwise, he or she may contaminate the water with fecal matter by simply moving through the water or having a fecal accident. Contaminating the pool puts other swimmers at risk of getting a recreational water illness (RWI). Although swimmers with diarrhea do not mean to contaminate the water, this is how illness is spread.

Do swim diapers or swim pants prevent fecal matter from entering the water?

Not likely. Swim diapers are unlikely to prevent diarrhea (which may contain germs) from leaking into the pool. Even though diapers or swim pants may hold in some feces, they are not leak proof and can still contaminate the pool water. Therefore, it is recommended that you change your child often and make frequent trips to the toilet. Swim diapers or pants are not a remedy for frequent diaper changing.

What should I do if I see fecal matter in the pool?

Immediately notify the pool attendant or lifeguard.

Pool staff should ask swimmers to leave the water immediately. The pool water may be tested and the chlorine levels raised, depending on the policy and initial chlorine level at the pool.

The wait between the closing and re-opening of the pool can be frustrating. Be supportive of pool management as the pool is closed to prevent the spread of recreational water illnesses (RWIs), which can make you and your family sick.

Should I think the water is safe if I don’t see fecal matter in the pool?

No. Just because you can’t see these germs doesn’t mean that they are not present.

Even the best-maintained pools can spread illness. Therefore, the safest pools are pools that are not only well maintained, but also have the commitment of all patrons to practice healthy swimming behaviors.

Remember, chlorine does kill all germs, but it takes time. Some germs can live for hours to several days in swimming pools. Be aware that as a swimmer, you play a crucial role in preventing recreational water illnesses (RWIs).

How can I protect myself, my family, and others from getting sick?

Healthy swimming behaviors are needed to protect you and your kids from RWIs and will help stop germs from getting in the pool in the first place.

Here are six “P-L-E-As” that promote Healthy Swimming:

Three “P-L-E-As” for Everyone

• PLEASE don’t swim when you have diarrhea…this is especially important for kids in diapers. You can spread germs into the water and make other people sick.
• PLEASE don’t swallow the pool water. In fact, try your best to avoid even having water get in your mouth.
• PLEASE wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or after changing diapers. You can protect others by realizing that germs on your body end up in the water.

Three “P-L-E-As” for Parents with Young Kids

Follow these “P-L-E-As” to protect your child and others from getting sick and to help keep RWIs out of your community:

• PLEASE take your kids on bathroom breaks often. Waiting to hear “I have to go” may mean that it’s too late.
• PLEASE change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool and spread disease.
• PLEASE wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. We all have invisible amounts of fecal matter on our bottoms that could end up in the pool.

by Marcus Pickett

There aren’t many home improvement projects that provide higher returns on the pleasure scale than the addition of a portable spa. A portable spa is simply an industry term for a self-contained hot tub unit that can be installed anywhere on your property. They are perfect for patios, decks, concrete slabs, and even reinforced decks, and are easily the most popular type of hot tub being purchased by homeowners today. Don’t let the word “portable” fool you into thinking lower quality. In fact, portable spas make up the vast majority of the spas you see being used by homeowners across the country, and are high quality, top of the line, spas for your home.

Portable Hot Tubs and Spas: What’s the Difference?
Not much, anymore. Traditionally, spas referred to the entire area, resort, and experience of luxurious bathing that usually included comfortable seating, water jets, filters, salt additives, and other amenities, whereas hot tubs referred to a simple wooden basin used for hot water bathing. Today, people often use the terms “hot tubs” and “spas” interchangeably or even consciously use the term “hot tub spa” to make sure all meanings are captured. Portable hot tubs and spas are an even more dubious distinction. If a unit must be self-contained to be considered “portable,” it limits the experience to the tub itself, even if that tub includes many of the extra typical of the spa experience. Indeed, the ability of portable hot tub manufacturers to incorporate these amenities within the tub has directly contributed to the blurred lines of each term.

Portable Spas: Costs and Considerations
There are two main considerations you need to take into consideration when you begin shopping for portable spas for your residence. The first is where you want to put it; the second is how large of a spa you want to purchase. Both are important questions, and in some sense, the choices you make in one area will greatly influence the other. It comes as no surprise to anybody that portable spa costs vary tremendously. You can find an inflatable spa for just a couple hundred dollars. Basic hard shell hot tubs usually run at least $1,000. Large, top-of-the-line spas will generally run $10,000 or more. Looking to ballpark the cost of what your neighbor might be spending. Well, the average cost of hot tub installation from homeowners across the country, young and old, rich and poor, is $2,067.

Portable Hot Tubs and Spas: Size and Accessories
Once you’ve determined where you want your portable spa to be placed, the last decision you’ll need to make is what size of spa you’re in the market for. Is your dream a small, cozy spa that you and your spouse can enjoy on cool spring evenings? Or are you looking for the biggest tub you can find, so that everyone can fit in the water at your infamous pool parties? Knowing how many people you want to be able to seat is a must before you head into the showroom. It’s important to be honest with yourself: Are you really going to host parties where a handful of people will use the hot tub? Are you really going to use the hot tub several times a week with your spouse? Depending on your answers, you may be able to find the best value from an elongated, two-seater that will give you plenty of leg room without being bigger than necessary.

Understanding Portable Spa Installation

The term “portable spas” can be misleading to homeowners, in that many people assume it means an easy set up and instant gratification. Remember, portable spas are still serious pieces of equipment. They are big, heavy, and will have to be wired into your home by an electrician or other contractor before they can be turned on. With all that being the case, it’s best to talk to a spa contractor about having a professional do a proper installation.

• Indoor Portable Spa Installation: Spas can literally be installed anywhere inside or outside your home, though most homeowners prefer outdoor installations. Installing portable spas indoors means you’ll have to make other home improvements, like cedar wall paneling and special ventilation, in order to accommodate the rise in humidity and moisture levels that a spa will produce. Still, it’s a price some homeowners are willing to pay to enjoy the relaxing properties of a spa without ever having to leave the house.
• Outdoor Portable Spa Installation: If you’ll be installing your spa outside, your main concerns should be convenience and privacy. Where is your spa going to be easily accessible and convenient to use? Remember, you’ll be making trips to your spa (hopefully!) during some pretty chilly weather, so most homeowners choose a place closer to the home rather than far away. Privacy also becomes a concern, so it’s a good idea to set off a “spa sized” area with a garden hose or tape, and to do so in a few different spots on your property. Spend a few minutes in each area looking around to see which one gives you the best combination of privacy from neighbors and great views of landscape and sky.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.

Hotel Harbour Grand Kowloon, Hong Kong

With a view straight over Hong Kong harbour, the pool at the Hotel Harbour Grand Kowloon gives you a swim to remember. The rooftop infinity pool has a glass wall on the harbour side, so you can admire the vista even while you swim. With eight different restaurants to choose from in the hotel, the cuisine ranges from the freshest seafood to a hearty grill.

Hotel Conrad Bali Resort & Spa, Bali

The pool of the Hotel Conrad Bali Resort & Spa is surrounded by palm trees and backs straight onto the tropical seas behind and the private 350m beach. Sink into the calm way of life on this Indonesian island, and embrace the mix of Hindu and Buddhist culture. Whilst staying in Bali, visiting the glorious mountainous regions is a highlight for any holiday.

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

The Entertainment Capital of the World surely does live up to its name. HolidayCheck users have dubbed this hotel as ‘incredible’, and ‘fantastic’. The Garden of the Gods is made up of six different pools complete with pillars and columns and all of the luxury of Ancient Rome. Spend the day in the many cabanas and gamble with a few hands at blackjack, and experience the exclusivity of the Venus pool.

Hotel Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai

Lazing in the Arabian sun is even better in the temperature controlled pools of the Hotel Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa. There is the pool and hot tubs along with pool side bars. Guests can lay back and enjoy a personal butler service, and golf courses are within walking distance. Some of Dubai’s most famous shopping malls are just 10 minutes away.

Marina Bay Sands Resort, Singapore

Opened just last month, the Marina bay Sands Resort has a 150m long infinity pool set a massive 55 storeys up. It’s doesn’t break the bank, however; it’s a bargain $12 for a dip in this astonishing pool. Not only does this hotel have the world’s highest pool, but it also has its own indoor canal, theatre, cinema and shopping malls.

About HolidayCheck

Holiday Check was founded in 1999, and is one of Europe’s largest websites for travelling, holidays and hotel reviews. It has a TÜV certificate which guarantees the quality, safety and transparency of the services offered. On HolidayCheck, users can find more than 1,300,000 reviews, 1,500,000 photos and 24,000 travel videos. The website is available in 10 different languages and allows travellers to share their travel experiences.

Courtesy of www.ehotelier.com

By Chris Wiant, M.P.H., Ph.D.

MYTHS and FACTS

Myth  I can’t get sick from swimming in a pool.      

Fact  Swimming is a fun and healthy activity. However, swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools can spread illnesses. In fact, the number of outbreaks associated with swimming has increased over the past decade.

Myth Clear pool water means clean pool water.

Fact Microorganisms can be present even in pools that appear clean. What you smell, feel, and hear can help you sense whether you’re swimming in a healthy pool.

Myth All germs that can cause illness are immediately killed by standard pool cleaning chemicals, such as chlorine.

Fact  Chlorine kills germs that can cause illness in pool water; but it takes time. While chlorine eliminates most within minutes, some germs such as Cryptosporidium can survive in a properly treated pool for days.

Myth When I smell the strong odor of pool chemicals, it means the swimming pool water is very clean.

Fact The heavy chemical odor is not from chlorine. It means that unhealthy chloramines have formed in the water, created from the mix of chlorine and contaminants. Chloramines are not as effective in disinfecting swimming pool water. A well-maintained pool has little odor.

Myth When I get red eyes while swimming, it means there is too much chlorine in the water.

Fact Red eyes and itchy skin are usually caused by improper pH or high chloramine levels. Surprisingly, the pool may actually need additional chlorine treatment to get rid of chloramines and sanitize the water.

Myth I only need to shower before going into the pool if I haven’t bathed that day.

Fact All swimmers should shower before entering the pool. Perspiration, body oil, urine, and other waste are with us at all times. Without showering, it all comes with us when we go swimming.

Myth As long as a child is wearing a diaper in the pool, there’s no chance for a contamination of the water.

Fact “Accidents” from diapered children pose a risk of contamination. To minimize this risk, parents must wash children thoroughly, front and back, with soap and water, and make sure a clean, form-fitting “swim diaper” is worn by the child at all times. Just remember that swim diapers are not leak proof.

Myth Keeping a swimming pool clean and healthy is the lifeguard’s and pool manager’s responsibility.

Fact Employees help keep pools clean, but they cannot be your only defense. Each one of us has a responsibility to follow good public health practices, stay alert for unhealthy conditions, and report problems when they occur.

By Healthypools.org

By Lisa Hallett Taylor, About.com Guide

We’ve heard interesting facts and trivia about the presidents, their families, and the White House. But what about the White House grounds, or more specifically, the swimming pools, patios, porches, secret retreats, outdoor furniture and other features we may not know about. Enjoy these 20 bits of information about the White House landscape, past and present.

1. Who Had the Outdoor Swimming Pool Built?

President Gerald Ford was quite athletic and an avid swimmer. In 1975 an inground outdoor swimming pool was built on the White House grounds, near the tennis courts. President Ford tried to make swimming a daily habit, and even conducted press conferences while swimming laps in the pool. Ford’s son Jack took scuba diving lessons in the pool; While later, young Amy Carter perfected her diving technique when her father, Jimmy Carter, was in office.

2. It’s Solar baby!

To make the White House more efficient, in 2002, the outdoor swimming pool cabana was renovated – more windows were added, the roof was raised, and a solar array was installed on the roof. The solar thermal array uses water heated in pipes by the sun and provides hot water to the cabana. Two of the systems deliver thermal energy for hot water and pool and hot tub heating and one produces electricity directly from the sun with photovoltaics .

3. Party Like It’s 1829

In simpler times, presidents would often open up the White House for public tours and receptions, where they would personally greet well-wishers on occasions like New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July and the Inaugural. When a crowd of “callers” on President Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration Day in 1829 swelled to 20,000, the leader had to make a quick exit to a local hotel. To appease the throngs, White House staff reportedly lured them out to the lawn by filling washtubs filled with oranges (perhaps from the Orangery?) and whiskey. While the revelers celebrated with their makeshift cocktails on the lawn, staff closed the doors and cleaned up the muddy floors of the White House.

4. The Mystery of the Swimming Pool Beneath the Press Room

President Franklin D. Roosevelt had an indoor swimming pool built at the White House as therapy for his polio. President Nixon had it covered over to turn it into a press room. In July 2007, the basement that still has the intact pool walls was redesigned, along with the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room above it to accommodate all the wires and cables for the electronic press. A trap door was replaced with a staircase that leads down to the basement.

The tile sides of the FDR pool remain as part of the walls of the basement and have been signed by the press, celebrities, dignitaries and of course, members of the administration. Famous signatures include Bono, Sugar Ray Leonard and First Lady Laura Bush.

5. The Jonas Brothers did what to the wall?

In August 2008, the wildly popular boy band the Jonas Brothers showed up at the White House to attend a press conference about diabetes and record a public service announcement about National Parks. The teen idols, Nick (a diabetes patient), Joe and Kevin Jonas, left a permanent memento at the White House by autographing the abovementioned wall of the swimming pool that’s below the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.

“There’s other names up there that are just astounding, some of our favorite artists and politicians,” Joe Jonas told CNN. “But it’s going to be really cool to see that in 10 years, 20 years from now.”

Wonder if Joe Jonas checked out his signature when he and his brothers stopped by the White House on Inauguration Night?

6. Oval Office Terrace

On the south side of the West Wing, just outside the Oval Office, is a patio that’s actually a large, multilevel terrace. Weather permitting, the president can enjoy having lunch on the terrace or conduct meetings with staff, or invited guests.

7. Which President Swam Naked?

Andrew Jackson  - the president who had the Orangery built and whose inaugural reception became a bacchanal on the lawn – apparently enjoyed early-morning swims au natural in the nearbyPotomac River, followed by some weeding and digging around in the White House gardens.

If he’d had an inground swimming pool built on the White House grounds, it would have saved him the jaunt down to the chilly waters of thePotomac. On the other hand, skinny-dipping may have been just what he needed to kick-off his day. Do you suppose he ever gathered a crowd during those early-morning dips?

8. Hot Tubbin’ at the White House

In 1997, during the Clinton administration, an outdoor spa was installed next to the inground swimming pool. As reported in The New York Times, the above-ground tub, the “Grandee” model by the Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, had seven seats, held 500 gallons of water and had 25 adjustable jets. The hot tub was donated by Watkins as a gift and, as is routine, was processed through the National Park Service.

“Every once in a while, there may be a photo taken in that product, and it may be a good thing for our business,” Watkins president Steve Hammock told The Times. Hammock was pleased that the White House would use the tub, because Watkins had donated a hot tub during the Reagan years. “I don’t know where that one ended up,” he said.

9. Walls of Stone

While there have been many changes throughout the years, the exterior stone walls are the same ones that were built under the leadership of President Thomas Jefferson , who was involved in the design and planning of many improvements to the White House exterior and grounds starting in 1801. Whatever the “recipe” was for stone and mortar is obviously a resilient one – maybe something that could be shared with stone masons or serious do-it-yourselfers today.

10. Wait – Another President Swam in the Raw?

In presidential lore, it’s often mentioned that John Quincy Adams  - not Andrew Jackson – swam in the nude. Well,Adams did too t not intentionally.

According to a passage in Adams’ diary, on June 18, 1825, he and an aide went for a canoe ride in Tiber Creek, near thePotomac. The canoe became waterlogged, and the two bailed and swam for shore. Their clothing was weighed down by the unexpected soak, soAdamsstripped off his duds and gave them to his aide, who then went to get help. In the meantime, Adams’ son went swimming in theTiberin search of his dad. When they met up, both went swimming and sat “…naked basking on the bank” until the aide returned with a carriage.Adamswas simply thankful that “no injury befell our persons.”

To the amateur eye, a swimming pool is a beautiful, fun oasis to relax and play. We don’t see most of the expensive machinery in a pool system, because it’s usually tucked away in a nearby pump room.

The heart of the pool system is the water pump. In a typical pump system, an electric motor spins an impeller inside the pump housing. The impeller drives the water from the various drains through the filter and back out to the water inlets. Just before it flows into the pump, the water passes through a metal strainer basket that catches leaves and other large debris that might clog the pump.

Check out this video which includes a detailed explanation of how swimming pool pumps work:

from  www.swimmingpool.com

Call 817-989-POOL (7665), TO GET YOUR iAQUALINK TODAY!

Smart Device. Smart Pool. Smart You. – Intelligent pool control from your smart phone, tablet or web-connected device.

iAquaLink allows you control your pool anytime, anywhere. Using our free app for your smart phone or web-connected device, you can control all the elements of your pool or pool/spa system, even when you’re on the go.

iAquaLink can be used on more mobile device platforms than any other pool control system.

• Free apps available for Apple® and Android® smartphones and tablets
• Mobile web-app* also available for most other smart phones, tablets and eReaders

iAquaLink is Easy & Convenient

• On the golf course or on the go, control your pool anytime, anywhere with iAquaLink
• Most intuitive and user-friendly mobile pool controller ever
• iAquaLink can be used alone, or combined with the complete line of wall-mounted or wireless AquaLink® interfaces
• User accounts can be created in minutes, used immediately, and the service is free
• Control multiple pools from a single app

Complete Control – Monitor and adjust all equipment controlled by the AquaLink system

Powerful & Versatile

• iAquaLink is a robust four piecesystem consisting of:
  • User Interface – Your smart phone, tablet, or web-connected device
  • iAquaLink Service – User account provides security, customization and multi-pool control
  • Web Connect Device – attaches to your pool’s automation system**
  • AquaLink Automation System – Control panel that connects to your pool equipment
• Upgrades available for virtually any AquaLink®, Jandy® or Zodiac® controller ever made
• No unsightly wires, wall panels, or charging bases required
• Compatible with virtually all residential WiFi and Ethernet networks
• Easy, hassle-free online registration

Technical Details

• Requires an iAquaLink device, and an AquaLink RS or AquaLink PDA Pool/Spa control system.
• Requires a quality Wi-Fi signal or Ethernet connection at the iAquaLink device.
• Requires a free iAquaLink account.
• Multi-language support.
• Smartphones and/or tablets not included with the purchase of iAquaLink.
• To activate the iAquaLink system, you will need:
  • Access to home’s internet service and computer
  • Wi-Fi network SSID and key (for Wi-Fi connection) or Ethernet network cable (for hard-wired connection)

 Atomic Whirlpool

Have everyone get in the pool and line up single file along the edge with very little space between them. Have everyone walk for a couple of minutes, then jog another couple of minutes, then “run” around the edge another couple of minutes. If done right the water will “carry” them around the pool. Finally, tell them to turn around and go the other way. It is almost impossible to go against the current!

Belly Flop Contest

Nothing brings everyone together quite like a belly flop contest.  Get your contestants, find a prize for the winner, and have the audience judge by applause.

Bobbing Heads

One player is it while the other players bob in and out of the water at one end of the pool. Without crossing the centerline, the person who is it tries to hit one of the bobbing players with a foam or soft rubber ball. Bobbing players should come up and submerge at an irregular pace to keep the person who is it from knowing exactly when they will emerge again.

If the person who is it misses, he or she must retrieve the ball and return to the throwing side. If he or she hits one of the bobbing players, the person who was hit then becomes it.

Bumper Balls

Using a rope, section off a small area of the pool. Have all the players hop into that section, each holding onto a beach ball. On the count of three, the players all use their beach balls as a means to bump the other players into the rope, as if they’re playing bumper cars. Anyone who touches the rope has to leave the pool. Keep playing until only one bumper remains in the pool, thereby winning the game.

Cardboard Boat Race

Supply teams with large cardboard boxes, packaging tape, colored paper, markers and stickers, and allot them one hour to build the best seaworthy boat.

Note: An adult should be on hand with scissors to cut the boxes. To add to the fun, encourage creativity in design and decoration, and, of course, every boat must have a name. Each team (one member at a time) must race the boat from one end of the pool to the other side and back again, using his or her arms as oars. The team that does this in the fastest time wins. If the boats are not sturdy enough to be raced, the contest can be based on which boat stays afloat the longest.

Colors

Choose a person to be “it”.  “It” stands on the side of the pool with their back to the other swimmers who are lined up in the water on the same side of the pool as “it”.  Players choose a color and keep it to themselves.   “It” begins to call out colors one at a time.  If a players color is called out they must try and make it to the other side of the pool as quietly as they can.  If “it” hears them swimming then they can dive into the pool and try and tag a player.  If “it” turns around and the players still have a hand on the side of the pool then “it” must take a step away from the edge and start again.  If “it” catches a swimmer then the swimmer becomes the new “it”.

Croc Wrestling

Get a big inflatable croc and choose 3 volunteers who will each have 60 seconds, by themselves to do the best show of croc wrestling in the pool. Give points for creativity, death rolls, etc.

Crocodile Hunter

Purchase some large plastic lightweight rings or hula-hoops and one or two inflatable crocodiles. Set them adrift in the pool and line up kids in the shallow end. Let each player take a timed turn trying to capture the croc by “ringing” its head or tail. Once someone snares the reptile, he or she should climb onto its back and race to land (designate one end of the pool as the place to store captured crocs before they are sent off to the leather factory).

Whoever completes the stunt in the least amount of time, wins. This game can be even more amusing if kids verbalize what they are doing. You can even subtract a few seconds from a player’s time if he or she can imitate an Australian accent.

Dolphins and Sharks

Start the game by gathering everyone into the middle of the pool. Divide half the players into dolphins and the other half into sharks, leaving one player to be the leader. Designate one end of the pool as the dolphins’ safe point and the other end as the sharks’ safe point. When ready, the leader calls out either “dolphins” or “sharks.” Whichever group you called has to quickly swim away to their safety point while their opponents chase them, trying to tag as many as possible. Throughout the game, randomly call out either team. Any player tagged has to join the enemy team. The game ends when all players have become part of one team.

Dolphins Race or Relay

If there are just two players, this game is a race. With four or more players, it can be a relay. Each team has a beach ball that the players must move from one end of the pool to the other using only their noses to push the balls along as they swim. If anyone uses his or her hands to move the ball, he or she must return to the starting position. The first person or team to finish wins.

Duck Push

If you have a swimming pool and lots of people together, throw in a couple of rubber ducks, and you can play Duck Push. Here’s how it works:

Put 3-4 players at one end of the pool and give them one rubber duck apiece. When you say go, they must use their nose to push the duck to the other end of the pool. They can also “blow” the duck forward; they just can’t bite the duck and swim to the other end with it in their mouths. Nor can they touch their duck with their hands or feet. Further, the players can “distract” the other players by splashing water in their faces or splashing water toward their ducks to knock them backward. They just can’t actually TOUCH the other players or the other players’ ducks. The first one to get his duck to touch the other end of the pool (obeying the rules) is the winner.

F-I-S-H

Just like the basketball game P-I-G or H-O-R-S-E, the first player performs a task that the others must repeat. For example, if the first player does a handstand in the water, the other players take turns attempting handstands, too. If someone cannot perform the task, he or she earns the first letter in the word fish.

Whoever “spells” fish first, loses. To keep things fair, you may want to make a rule that players can only select a particular task once so that someone doesn’t keep repeating tasks that no one else can do. You might also need an objective judge to determine whether one’s stunt earns him or her a letter.

Floatie Race

For this game, you’ll need two or more people, and two floaties of any kind — as long as they’re big enough to sit on. Two players line up on their floaties at one end of the pool and, on “go”, race to the other end. First one there wins. This game works best in a longer pool, and can also be played as a relay race with two teams.

Follow the Swimmer

This game works best with younger kids. Start by picking one player to be the leader and another player to be the watcher. All the players hop into the pool and line up with the leader in front. The leader then swims in whatever fashion she likes; anything from swimming under water to doing a back-stroke. All the other players have to mimic exactly what she does. The watcher, who stands looking from outside the pool, eliminates any players she sees who are not mimicking. Keep playing until only one player remains. He becomes the new leader.

Frozen T-Shirt Contest

Dunk 2 shirts in water and freeze for 2-3 days. During your event, take the shirts out and divide your friends into 2 groups. Each group is racing to thaw and put on the shirt. You can use anything in the yard to thaw it: hose, pool, slam it on the pavement, use your hands, breath on it, etc. Every 15 seconds you switch the person thawing the shirt. Have someone shout out “switch” ever 15 seconds. The first one team to thaw it and puts it on one of their teammates wins.

Invisi-Bottle

Take a clear, 2-liter bottle, remove the wrapper and fill it with pool water. Try to use a bottle with a white cap, or a cap of the same color as the floor tiles of the pool. Divide everyone into two teams and line them up, in the water, on opposite ends of the pool — facing away from the water. An adult, or one of the players, stands outside the pool and tosses the bottle in the water. When they hear the splash, the players turn around and try to find the bottle. Sounds easy, right? Think again! The clear bottle blends in and becomes almost invisible on the bottom of the pool. It’s a fun, challenging game for everyone!

Marco Polo

Marco Polo is a simple game that can be played with two or more players. To play, choose one player to be “it”. That person closes his or her eyes, or is blindfolded, and counts to a certain number (you pick!). While the “it” person counts, the other players scatter around in the pool. When the count is over, the “it” player tries to tag the other players, using only the sound of their voices to find them. The “it” player calls out “Marco”, and the other players call out “Polo”. When the “it” player tags another, that player becomes the “it” person and the game starts over again.

Noodle Joust

Select 2 players to sit on a blow up raft in the middle of the pool.  Give each one a pool noodle and have them joust with the noodles and try and get each other off the raft.  The winner takes on the next player.

Numbers Crunch

Divide the players into two teams and have each team line up on opposite sides of the pool with a plastic bucket. Then scatter about 25-30 numbered ping-pong balls around the pool. The numbers represent the point values for each ball. With an On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! both teams jump in and try to retrieve the balls and place them into their team’s bucket.

The catch is that players are allowed to retrieve only one ball at a time. When all of the balls have been collected, each team adds up the numbers on their balls to determine their score. The team with the highest score wins. This game can be made more interesting by allowing teams to win extra points for collecting sets of consecutive numbers.

Octopus

Choose a person to be “it”.  They stand in the middle of the pool.  Players line up on one side of the pool and try and swim to the other side without being tagged.  The players who are tagged hold hands with “it” and for the next round all the players holding hands try and tag the swimmers as they try and make it to the other end of the
pool.  Keep going until all players have been tagged – then choose another “it” and start again.

Ping Pong Scramble

Players form a large circle in the pool and scramble to collect ping pong balls and place them in their container. Dump a large container of ping pong balls in the middle of the players circle.  Whoever collects the most balls wins!  Have them collect them in different colored laundry baskets or buckets that are placed on the edge of the pool.  Variation:  Before the party use permanent markers to give each ping pong ball a point value.  The team with the highest score wins.   Or place a small colored dot on each ball in different colors. Teams must only collect the balls with their color.

Pool Tag Survivor

One person is “it.” They call out either “dolphin,” “froggy,” or “submarine.”

Dolphin has to swim on top of the water.
Froggy has to swim in the middle.
Submarine has to swim at the bottom of the pool.

“It” has to close their eyes and try to tag the others. When a player gets to the other end, they yell, “Survived!” If they get tagged they are it. The more people the better.

Popsicle

This is a modified version of freeze tag. Define a playing area where everyone can stand with his or her head above water. One person is it and tries to tag the other players. If a player is tagged, he or she must stand frozen like a popsicle (with hands straight in the air) until another player thaws him or her by swimming between his or her legs. A player cannot be tagged while underwater. After a minute or two, have someone else be it and continue the game until everyone has had a chance to be on the offensive.

Scavenger Hunt

Pick a variety of items, and throw two of each into the pool — make sure they’ll sink and that they’re not sharp or made of glass. Divide everyone into two teams and shout, “go”. Each team has to collect one of each item from the bottom of the pool. The first team to collect them all wins.

Splash Dance

Have individuals or teams choreograph water ballets to their favorite pop songs. Suggest using waterproof props and costumes to make the “show” more creative. Then invite family, friends and neighbors over to watch the premiere. An evening show complete with lots of pool lights and spotlights can make a dramatic presentation. If the kids would like to compete, make up different performance categories, such as funniest, most original, etc., so that each child or team can win.

Watermelon Push Relay

Funny relay race for individuals or teams.  Players must push a watermelon from one end of the pool to the other without touching the bottom of the pool with their feet.

Water Hoops

Buy a poolside basketball hoop or improvise with a plastic trash can. If you have two hoops, you can play “full court”; otherwise, just play “half court” games. You might want to have a rule that players can only hold onto the ball for five seconds before they have to either shoot or pass.

Wet T-Shirt Relay

This game starts out like any other relay race. Two teams are created, and half of each team lines up on opposite ends of the pool. So what makes this relay race different? The wet T-shirt! The starting player for each team is given a soaking wet T-shirt. The players put the T-shirt on, completely — then jump in, swim across the pool, climb out, take off the shirt and hand it to the next player on the team. The first team to get everyone across the pool in the T-shirt wins.

From www.swimmingpool.com