Government Relations and Standards

Some Florida pools haven't complied with safety law

A Florida television station found that some public pools in the state have not complied with a federal law that requires updated drain covers. Jennifer Guttuso of the Collier County Health Department noted that inspectors will have the authority to close pools with outdated drain covers beginning Nov. 20. Pool companies say they have plenty of covers that comply with the law.  WBBH-TV (Fort Myers, Fla.) (11/2)

N.C. county OKs fencing ordinance for pools, some hot tubs
North Carolina's Onslow County now requires residents to fence in some outdoor hot tubs and swimming pools. The measure applies to permanent outdoor structures intended for swimming that are at least 24 inches deep. County officials say they passed the ordinance to improve safety. Residents have until Nov. 2, 2010, to comply. The Daily News (Jacksonville, N.C.) (11/7)

• APSP notes: The headline of the preceding source article and its first few paragraphs are misleading. Onslow County has indeed adopted Appendix G of the 2009 North Carolina State Building code, according to Wendy Purser, APSP Carolinas chapter president, and spas do not need to be fenced. The source article later explains: "The ordinance is not applicable to temporary or inflatable pools 24 inches or less in depth or hot tubs with a locked safety cover that remains closed and locked when the hot tub is not in use."

In the News

Pool cover traps Connecticut horse
A horse in Connecticut learned the wet way that a swimming-pool cover could not support its weight. The horse wandered onto the pool cover and then crashed through, unable to escape. Animal-control officials arrived and, using a leash, guided the horse to the steps of the pool. Once up the steps and dried off, the horse was checked by a veterinarian. The Weston Forum (Conn.) (10/29)

Column: A fun swim for a city dog
New York City's Water4dogs specializes in providing hydrotherapy in an 8,000-gallon heated pool for dogs with health issues. It also offers recreational swims for dogs in good health, writes Jill Abramson, who recounts here a swim she took in the city pool with her retriever. NYTimes.com (11/2)

Swimming pool of "haunted" hotel draws believers
Ghost hunters can indulge their habit in Alton, Ill., with a tour of the reputedly haunted former Mineral Springs Hotel -- now Mineral Springs Mall -- and nearby buildings, and can even stay overnight in the former hotel. On Halloween eve, guests participated in a séance in a drained pool at the site. "Alton has at least 100 haunted buildings, and this hotel is the most haunted, with the pool as the epicenter of that activity," said Wayne Hensley, a lecturer at Mineral Springs Haunted Tours and town historian. The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) (11/9)

Best Practices

How to select a successor in a family-run business
Author Colleen Debaise polled experts for tips on how to choose a successor in a family-owned business. Debaise suggests holding a family retreat away from the office, writing a job description to take some of the emotion out of the selection process, considering a chief operating officer from outside the family and soliciting advice from outside experts. The Wall Street Journal (11/8)

Online marketing helps businesses grow faster
A recent survey indicates that high-growth small businesses invest more in marketing and are making a bigger effort to market online. "E-mail marketing is one of the best ways for small businesses to attract and retain customers while also growing revenue, which were two of the top business challenges identified by small businesses in the survey," said Steve Adams, vice president of marketing for Protus. Small Business Trends (11/3)

Health, Safety & Consumer Watch

Study: Slip-resistant surfaces may reduce hot tub injuries
The number of injuries related to hot tubs doubled between 1990 and 2007, according to a study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy. The study found that about 50% of about 6,600 hot tub injuries that occurred each year were slip-and-fall injuries. Placing slip-resistant surfacing in and around hot tubs could help reduce the chances of an injury, the study noted. KVVU-TV (Las Vegas) (11/3)

• APSP note: Injury study doesn't tell the whole story: The hot tub industry is heavily invested in making sure its products are safe and enjoyable, and encourages and supports independent research on the effects of hot tub use. However, a recent study on hot tub injuries needs a closer look. "Hot Tub, Whirlpool, and Spa-Related Injuries in the U.S., 1990-2007," published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, looked at injury estimates from the CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and concluded that injuries had increased by 160%. However, it did not take into account that hot tub ownership during that period increased nearly 200%, indicating that the rate of injury has actually gone down as hot tub ownership has increased. View the NEISS data.

Prospects are slimmer for holiday bonuses, raises
A recent American Express survey found that fewer small-business employees will receive bonuses or holiday gifts this year as their employers try to cut costs. Only 31% of the respondents said they would give employees bonuses, and only 16% said they will be boosting wages. Google/The Associated Press (11/3)

APSP News

APSP Codes and Standards Department update
Between the CPSC hearings on unblockable drains in Washington, D.C., and the International Residential Code and International Building Code hearings in Baltimore, APSP had a busy and successful week. IRC rejected by an 11-0 vote an attempt to change the code language to require an SVRS on every pool and spa, regardless of efficacy on a given installation -- and in conflict with the VGB Act and the ANSI-7 standard. The IBC concurred, voting 12-0 to reject the same proposal. At CPSC hearings before four of the five commissioners (watch the archived webcast), APSP staff and volunteers presented information to help CPSC staff write guidance on the unblockable drain definition in the VGB Act that will help pool professionals efficiently comply with VGB.

BioGuard joins APSP sponsorship program
Citing its commitment to safety and professionalism in the industry, BioGuard has signed on as a Strategic Level sponsor of the APSP. "This program just fits what BioGuard is all about: knowledgeable professionals helping consumers enjoy their pool or spa safely," said Scott Newton, BioGuard brand manager. The APSP sponsorship program launched last month. Strategic Level sponsorship slots are $20,000, Leader levels $15,000 and collaborator levels $10,000. Each level includes benefits for the sponsor as well as for APSP members in the areas of consumer safety and industry professionalism. The next phase of the program will be introduced in 2010 and will include specific event and activity sponsorships starting at $1,000. Contact Helen Bloch at hbloch@apsp.org to become a sponsor now, and watch for further details coming soon.

Product Trends and Research

Shut off your waterfalls before freezing months, expert says
Outdoor design and gardening expert Mary-Kate Mackey recommends shutting off waterfalls ahead of the freezing winter months to avoid problems with ice dams. She writes that although she keeps the water pump for her bird waterer in operation, she removes the pump from her smaller water feature. Mackey writes that in cold areas, if a pump is kept operational, it should be two feet below the water's surface. The Christian Science Monitor/Diggin' It blog (11/9)

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