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The Swimming Season is upon us! If you operate a community pool or spa, these links will help you keep your residents healthy and safe. I have also provided some management tips related to pool operations. 

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Pool Safety

The CPSC’s site has a variety of pool safety information. I especially like the full-color posters that you can download. There is also a clear explanation of how to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. (Hint: If your pool man wants to charge you over $1000 for the work, take a look!)

The Center for Disease Control: Healthy Swimming

The Center for Disease Control offers fact sheets, posters, podcasts and videos on just about every pool hazard topic imaginable. What do you do about poop in the pool? Check out the CDC’s Healthy Swimming website to find out.

Red Cross: Stay Safe this Summer

The Red Cross also offers serveral water safety posters. Given the recent court rulings on community rules that prohibit management from limiting childrens' access to our swimming pools, I like to post a lot of safety reminders. I especially like the "It Only Takes a Moment" poster that explains that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death of children and that parents should never take their eyes off of their children when near water.

Red Hot Phones

If you do not have an emergency phone in your pool area already, consider installing one. Red Hot Phones offers a variety of options.

Management Tips 

For all-age communities it is now recommended by WMA that your pool rules state: "Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult". The use of the word "should" instead of "must" is necessary to comply with fair housing law. Talk to your attorney if you have questions about this issue.

If you have problems with the entire neighborhood using your community pool, require that community-issued wristbands be worn in the pool area. They make the trespassers easy to spot and give residents that posh, exclusive feeling.