Thursday, February 24, 2011

This Is a New One

You would think after 33 years in the swimming pool business Pooldad would've heard it all.

Nope! Obviously he has not.

A woman phoned the other day and explained that her and her family had just purchased a new home that had an inground swimming pool.  She went on to tell Pooldad that since they had small children [under the age of 5] she was looking for an estimate to fill the pool in with dirt to keep it from being a safety hazard.

Okay - not so weird - proactive Mom removing the danger from her backyard. Admirable. Pooldad has been asked this question a lot for people who just don't like pools.

Pooldad gives her a price range based on the dimensions of the pool and she seems satisfied.

Then she asked:  "So when the kids are old enough to be around a swimming pool in a few years how much would you charge to come out and dig it back out so we could use it?"

HUH?

Wow.  Didn't see that coming nor has he ever been asked that.

If you want to use the pool in the future there are three options that work wonderfully well and cost less than the price of a several truck loads of dirt.

First up:  A Loop-lock safety cover.
Pooldad can walk across these things.  In fact I have seen a car [accidently] parked on one.  They are that strong and safe.

Second choice:  Safety lock gate.

Not my first choice because kids are crafty little buggers - but they do come with alarms and if used properly with the locks provided it will keep them out.

Third is so simple it astounds me that people just don't understand the basic concept.

Watch your children

Every year, it never fails, we have a story or two, in the spring, of a child drowning and inevitably it comes out that the child was unsupervised or the parent was on the phone/computer.  They are always tragedies that could have been avoided if they had kept an eye on their kid.  It is heartbreaking - but when you have been in the business this long you still don't become immune to it. [Note:  In all his time in the biz' it has only occurred at one of Pooldad's pools and it was the fault of the parents, not the company.  Most of the stories we see are on our local news.]

Anyhoodle - I have no idea what the woman decided after Pooldad suggested numbers 1 and 2 but I know for certain they won't be digging out a pool in a few years.

Have a good Thursday everyone.  Hope you are all well and happy!

Go check out Bizzy's great giveaway celebrating her 1500th post! WOW!

16 comments:

Jumble Mash said...

I agree! I've even seen pools that have a hard cover that goes over top of them with just a push of a button. Kinda like a covertable.

Jeannie said...

I'm rather surprised they haven't come up with a "hard" cover for pools that will be out of use for a while so the space isn't lost for playing or as a patio. I would think a wooden platform would be fine. But I would totally understand the woman's concerns. I've heard of people discovering filled in pools in their yards and digging them out.

Anonymous said...

What is she thinking this woman?

Lyndylou said...

I would go for option one if it were me! But what is she thinking getting it filled in? then digging it out later.....madness.

Southhamsdarling said...

As they say, "there's nowt so queer as folk!!". That loop-lock option sounds good to me. I can understand her concerns, especially with young children, but, as you say, you can always make sure that you keep your eye on them when they're out in the garden!

that guy said...

SERIOUSLY?

i thought for a moment someone had kidnapped my fav skippy in a loopy...

then you said it...

watch your kids...

i heard/read somewhere recently (and i can't remember where, but...)

take the warning labels off and [sic] the problem will go away...

the irresponsiblility of some people is absolutely astounding...

i am scared for the future and my kids...

fill in and dig out a pool?

jinkies and zoinks!

Khadra said...

Id do option one and two together. Interesting question I suppose. And though I agree with you that parents should watch their kids, I know accidents can happen. If you have a lot of small kids and your body decides it's time to go to teh bathroom any number of disasters can strike. trust me lol!!

Unknown said...

That lady is a strange critter.

Sandra said...

I agree with you, it's all about watching your kids. HOWEVER, I have to share a story...I know, you're shocked, I never share stories about myself, yet this time I must!
My second oldest was such a handful when he was a toddler, that I had to lock him into his bedroom with a hook and eye lock on the outside while I showered to ensure he would not leave the house. One time, the 2 year old genius somehow maneuvered his little self on the bed, opened the bedroom door so he could see the hook and eye on the other side keeping him in, and with some long skinny toy, he slipped it through the door, and unhooked the latched. I came out of the shower, discovered the child missing, and found him several gut-wrenching minutes later running down the street.
I know, it begs the question as to why the kid wanted to leave so much. But it also makes me wonder why this kid is the one bringing home 60% average from school.
So all of this to say, this is the kid I would have found floating face down in my pool even if I'd had him on a leash attached to my foot.
....ok, I'm done.
So glad Pooldad was able to offer that lady alternatives though. See, I would not have realized you could buy a tarp for the top of the pool!

BB said...

Those loop lock safety covers are a great invention. At a family gathering at my step daughter's house (they had one) one of the toddlers ran onto it accidentally and for those that were skeptical then, they learned how safe they are. It's the people that are scary. Not the pools.

RVVagabond said...

When we winter in Arizona where pools at private homes are very common, there is always at least one news story about a child drowning while we are there. Sometimes there is one a month if it is a warm winter. And it is almost always a toddler that dies. Pools=constant vigilance with kids. No ifs, ands or buts.

word vert: chromp. Poke salad Annie, gator got your granny--chromp, chromp, chromp, chromp.

Travelin' Mike said...

What a concept... watch your children.

I like that pool cover!

Rebecca said...

wow that's new one on me what happen to good old fashion watching your child when he goes out to play like normal people.

caterpillar said...

This indeed sounds like a new one...collector's edition kinds...wonder what she was thinking.

Anonymous said...

I had a feeling that mom was going to say that...

The Adorkable Ditz' Missteps

colenic said...

are you collecting all these stories...you could write a book!! Thanks for sharing..hugs to you