Author: Sara May

Outdoor Entertaining, Pool Accessories, Pool Fun

Create an At-Home Water Park to Save Money and Hassle

Comment

Crowded Water Park

Water parks may be fun for kids, but parents often cringe when water park season comes along.  Admission fees, locker rental, food costs, long lines, and that marathon of a walk to and from the car make a day at the water park feel like a wallet-emptying hassle.

More and more, homeowners are choosing to create their own water park in the backyard swimming pool.  The first place most people start is with a water park-worthy slide.  Pool Slides come in all shapes and sizes, but finding the right one for your family is simply a matter of knowing what they like.  Does your family prefer a water slide with twists and turns?  Or, do they like one that shoots them straight down like a rocket into the water?  Once you determine their preferences, selecting a slide should be easy.

At-home water parks are great fun for everyone.  Parents can relax at the poolside without shelling out lots of money for the privilege to do so, and kids can enjoy hours of fun and excitement without having to wait in long lines.  It’s a completely win/win situation.

G-Force 360 Degree Pool Slide   Aqua Blast Slide

Holidays and Gift Ideas, Outdoor Entertaining, Pool Fun

Throw Easy Summer Pool Parties with Pool Games

Comment

Summer birthdays and holidays make perfect opportunities to entertain friends and family in the backyard swimming pool.  The pool is the only entertainment needed, so be sure to have plenty of pool toys and games available.  Two favorites among kids and adults alike are the Water Arcade Pool Float and the 3 in 1 Pool Game Set.

Reminiscent of carnival-style water shooting games, the Water Arcade Pool Float challenges three players at a time to a ball-squirting water race.   Thanks to the constant-supply water squirters that come with the float, kids will never run out of water during the race.  Water is supplied directly from the pool.

The 3 in 1 Pool Game Set combines ladder ball, ring toss, and bag toss games in one unit.  These popular pool party games can be played in the pool or at poolside.  Adults and kids can have fun demonstrating their skills or playing for prizes.

When you have a backyard swimming pool, summer birthday parties and holiday celebrations are a snap to host.  Toss in some fun and unique pool games, and you’ll easily keep the crowd entertained.

   Arcade Shooter Pool Float

Innovative Solutions, Pool Opening

Fill Your Pool and Support Your Local Fire Department

14 Comments

Tanker Truck

Looking for an easy way to fill your swimming pool this season and support your local firefighters at the same time?  Creative thinkers in Jackson, New Jersey, developed a unique fundraising idea that would allow homeowners to fill their backyard pools quickly with clean water by paying the local fire department a small fee to do the job. 

For only $200, fire fighters from the Cassville Volunteer Fire Company drive their tanker truck filled with clean water to local residents’ homes.  The $200 buys 7,000 gallons of water, so filling a newly installed pool would cost more, but it’s a win/win situation.  Backyard swimming pools can be filled much more quickly this way, and the fire department raises funds which can be used for necessities like training and equipment.

Community fire departments across the country could certainly benefit from a similar partnership with pool-owning citizens.  The Cassville Volunteer Fire Company and the residents of Jackson, New Jersey, have proven that creative fundraising can work in everyone’s favor.

* Photo source: http://www.cassvillefire.org/pool.html

Hot Tubs and Saunas, Pool and Spa Safety

Safety Tips for Hot Tubs and Spas

3 Comments

Hot Tub and Spa Safety

Residential hot tub safety is not always given as high a priority as swimming pool safety, but just as many dangers exist in and around hot tubs and spas as there are around pools.  Here are a few safety tips recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that can keep everyone safe in the spa:

  • Hot Tub Cover — Always use a hot tub cover, and be sure to secure and lock it when the spa is not in use.  Remind children frequently to stay away from the hot tub unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
  • Drains and Drain Covers — Spas and hot tubs should have at least two drains which have compliant anti-entrapment drain covers.  Single-drain spas create a powerful suction that can entangle hair and entrap body parts, leading to injury and even death.  Check the hot tub’s drain covers several times throughout the year.  Replace damaged or missing drain covers immediately.
  • Pump Shut-Off — Know the location of the hot tub pump’s shut-off switch.  Turn off the pump immediately in any emergency situation.
  • Water Temperature — Keep the water temperature in your hot tub at or below 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Alcohol Consumption — Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while in a hot tub or spa.

Make these few safety precautions a priority around the spa.  Doing so will keep everyone safe and ensure that hot tub time is relaxing and fun.

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Pool Equipment Storage, Pool Fun

Bobbing for Snacks in the Swimming Pool

1 Comment

Big Bobber Floating Cooler

The weather is gradually warming, and the time is right to start planning for long summer days spent playing and relaxing in the backyard swimming pool.  Staying hydrated and refreshed while outside will give you the energy to stay out for as long as you wish.  The key is to drink plenty of water and other fluids and to have healthy munchies at hand.  Apples, grapes, and carrot sticks are excellent choices for outdoor summer snacks.

Keeping all of your refreshments cool and crisp is simply a matter of having a cooler filled with ice siFloating Coolertting poolside.  An even more convenient place to store drinks and snacks, though, is directly in the pool water.  The handy and playful Big Bobber Floating Cooler keeps your refreshments within arm’s reach — you never need to leave the pool to fetch a soda or a snack.  This floating cooler is less cumbersome than standard coolers, and it’s versatile, too.  You can take it out of the pool and with you on your next camping trip or picnic in the park.

The fun and functional Big Bobber Floating Cooler makes it easy to stay outside longer on warm summer days.  Pack plenty of drinks and snacks to keep you going — this cooler lets you keep them close at hand, whether you’re in the pool or on an outdoor adventure with the family.