Ask The Experts: Pool Safety And Fuel Saving Tips

ask the experts

Pool Safety And Fuel Saving Tips

With the kids out of school until September, having fun is the #1 priority on their list of things to do.

Spending the day in a swimming pool is an ideal way for kids to enjoy themselves and stay cool during the dog days of summer. After all summer and swimming go hand in hand!

Having a pool is a huge responsibility for a homeowner, so we start off our experts’ column with ways to help prevent an accidental drowning.

The second part of this column offers ways to get the most out of a tank of gas when you drive to the cottage or a quick getaway in Essex County. Since everything from fuel to milk seems to be going up in price these days, we hope this information helps save you a few bucks.

Have a great and SAFE summer everyone!

Keeping Kids Safe In The Pool

Every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 8,080 ER visits, on average, due to non-fatal drownings (CDC.gov/drowning/facts) and as summer quickly approaches, a new SafeHome.org report shows 50% of parents of children up to three years of age are seriously concerned about pool safety and 25% of all parents of all ages share this concern too.

Although only 13% of parents surveyed have a pool at their home, children will likely have access to pools outside the home, whether they’re public or at a friend’s or family member’s house.

Having proper pool safety measurements in place is imperative to keeping kids safe around water. Check out these SafeHome.org tips to ensure a safe summer . . . Install pool fencing. One in five parents of infants and toddlers don’t have a pool fence (this number doubles when including all parents).

Backyard pool safety includes making sure an adult is always on site to watch all children. Water depth must also be checked before a child jumps in a pool. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Five feet high is ideal, and check out fences that include self-closing gates with childproof locks for extra security. Remove all ladders after use for above-ground pools to avoid toddlers and children from entering the pool without your knowledge. Install a door alarm if you have a door that leads directly outside to your pool that alerts you whenever it opens.

Install a pool monitor that alerts you to

underwater motion, while fewer than 10% of parents do this, it is an easy life saving addition. Set up an outdoor security camera that faces the pool, ideally with motion detection. Start swimming lessons early. Pediatricians say that the best age for your child to learn how to swim is between one and four years old, and many organizations provide lessons for infants as young as six months.

To read SafeHome’s full parenting and pool safety report, please see: SafeHome.org/familysafety/parenting-in-america-report.

Seven Tips To Save On Gas This Summer

(NC) Summer vacation is here. However, rising fuel prices are influencing plans, and have us looking for ways to make our trips more efficient.

Here are a few suggestions from Toyota Canada to help you get the most out of your summer trips . . . Be light-footed: Anticipate changes in speed and traffic and respond with gentle acceleration or deceleration. This is particularly helpful with most types of hybrid vehicles. Don’t speed: Not only is it dangerous, but speeding also burns more fuel, which will cost you more at the pump. Stay on top of servicing: Regular maintenance at your local dealership, such as changing your engine oil and filter and inspecting and replacing air filters, will keep your engine operating at peak efficiency to optimize your gas usage. Give the tires some TLC: Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for tire size and air pressure. The ideal pressure is listed on the inside of the driver’s side door jam. Believe it or not, this can affect the performance and efficiency of your vehicle. Stay sleek:To optimize the vehicle’s aerodynamics, remove roof racks, cargo boxes, bike racks and other accessories when you’re not using them. Pack light: A lighter vehicle is a more efficient vehicle, so remove all non-essential items. If it’s not needed on the trip, leave it at home. Electrify your ride: Driving a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery-electric vehicle is the best way to save on fuel, whether you borrow, lease or buy. You fuel up and drive a hybrid just like a gas vehicle, but you get 30 to 40 percent better fuel efficiency. A plug-in hybrid gets you all-electric, zeroemission driving when you’re staying close to home, plus a fuel tank as back-up so you never have to worry on those longer journeys. Charging at home means a battery-electric vehicle is an ideal solution for commuting, day trips and stay-in-the-city weekends.

These simple tips should help you save on gas — and reduce your emissions — while enjoying the pleasures of the open road this summer. www.newscanada.com