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American Red Cross and National Swimming Pool Foundation Promote Water Safety and Good Home Pool Maintenance With New Online Course

Posted on: Monday, 15 June 2009, 09:37 CDT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross and National Swimming Pool Foundation(R) announced today the premiere of the online Home Pool Essentials(TM): Maintenance and Safety course. Home Pool Essentials teaches pool care and water safety techniques to help home pool and hot tub owners stay safer and enjoy a well maintained environment this summer. For an enrollment fee of $19.95, the course allows consumers to learn at their leisure at www.homepoolessentials.org.

There are nearly 9 million backyard pools and 6 million hot tubs in the United States. "According to a recent Red Cross survey, 66% of parents with children plan to engage in water-related activities where no lifeguards will be on duty, including home pools," said Scott Conner, Senior Vice President of Preparedness and Health and Safety Services for the American Red Cross. "Home Pool Essentials will help home pool owners provide a safer environment for their family and friends."

Through interactive learning, videos, exercises and short quizzes, and a downloadable 30-page resource guide, this two-hour course teaches important lessons, such as how to take steps to:

• Lessen the risks of home pool ownership and operation
• Identify appropriate safety equipment
• Provide layers of protection such as preventing unsupervised access, establishing rules and enforcing safe behaviors, and ensuring that everyone knows how to swim well
• Prevent pool and hot tub entrapment hazards
• Prepare for and respond to aquatic emergencies

Home Pool Essentials doesn't just focus on safety. It also shows participants how to reduce ownership costs by maintaining cleaner, safer pools and hot tubs. Though pools and spas bring a lot of joy, there are certain risks and responsibilities with having water, chemicals and equipment near the home.

"Pool and hot tub owners are often frustrated when their water is not clear or if they have algae or can't seem to get the chemical levels right. Home Pool Essentials is a great resource to help prevent these problems and more," says Thomas M. Lachocki, Ph.D., CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF). "Owners will find Home Pool Essentials useful even if they hire service companies or rely on a professional pool store. The course will help owners better identify problems and potential solutions and more readily judge if they can fix the problem or if they should consult a professional."

According to a recent American Red Cross survey of more than 1,000 adults, 10% of Americans have had an experience where they nearly drowned in a private pool. To learn more about the Red Cross and NSPF visit www.redcross.org and www.nspf.org. Proceeds from enrollment fees will help support the activities of the Red Cross and NSPF.

Details: Telephone survey of 1,002 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on March 20-23, 2009 conducted by ORC International.

For information or to schedule interviews, contact Laurie Batter, batterup@batterupproductions.com or 760-438-9304.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Thomas Lachocki, Ph.D

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=77270

SOURCE National Swimming Pool Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

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