Friday, March 15, 1991 - North Shore News —- 25

Hazards to look out for In owning a pool

A MAJOR area of concern for
you as a pool owner is kids —
your own and the neighbor's.

How do you Keep them cout of
the pool?

How do you control them in the
pool?

When you decided to put a pool
in, you may not have been aware
of the hazards presented by it.

Hazards

1) You have several thousands
of gallons of water in your
backyard and it takes merely one
or two cupfuls to drown a person.

2} You have quantities of lethal
poisons in the form of chemicais
on hand.

3) You have electrical exuip-
ment such as pumps and lights in
proximity to the water.

4) Your yard becomes 2 focal
point of activity for a large
number of neighbourhood kids.

Each and every one of these
hazards should give rise to added
caution on your part.

Here are some suggestions for
dealing with these hazards:

1) The fence or wall should be
at feast six feet high. Chainlink
fences which provide foot holds
for little feet should be topped by
a “Y"* extension. Other barriers
should have rounded, angular or
pointed tops.

2)So fittle children or dogs
can’t dig, crawl or create tunnels
under the encicsure, the fence
should be constructed with con-
tinvous footings or be inbedded
into the earth tc a depth of at
least six inches.

3) Fence framing and braces
should be on the inside of the
pool enclosure to eliminate exter-
nai handholds or footholds which
a child might use as a ladder.

4) Hedges and other foliage
should be trimmed so the pool
area can be observed from out-
side.

5) The gate should be locked at
all times when responsible adults
are not present and the the gate-
latching mechanism checked ai the
end of each pool use to ensure
Proper operation.

If a padlock is used, a com-
bination type is preferred to a key
type. Selected neighbors should be
informed of a means of access in
emergencies.

6) A push button, preferably
enclosed in a break-glass or

Moisture can cause severe damage

From page 24

that the house is settling.

© Squeaking floors aren’t 2 struc-
tural or safety problem. They're
just annoying. The squeaks are
usually the result of poor nailing.

Walls

® Cracks an the interior side of
outside walls can lead (to serious
damage. Rotted wood siding,
Stained metal or vinyl surfaces and

crumbling mortar may be caused
by moisture from the inside of the
house creeping through cracks in
the wall or around windews.

Ceilings

® Bulging, warned or sloped ceil-
ings may mean that the floors
above are bulging, warped or
sloped.

© Stains usually mean that water is
seeping onto the ceiling. Leaking
pipes and poor sealing around

WEVE GOT

CLIME

VALUES »

ADE BETTE ER |
Speceiving: in Blinds and Draperies for over 7 years §

4877 Marine Drive, §.Van. 684-44 04

#438918 Progress Way, Squamish

892-5857

Whistler 932-6647 §

sinks and bathtubs are the com-
mon causes.

Kitchen and bathroom

® Damaged ceilings, floors or
wails are the typical probfems
because these rooms generate so
much moisture.

break-link box to prevent tamper-
ing, should be mounted adjacent
to the gate (reachable from inside
and outside).

This will activate a loud alarm
for securing assistance in

emergencies. Neighbors should
know what the alarm means and
what action to take.

7) An automatic alarm system
would be ideal to warn off tres-
passers in the pool area.

“Sales and Service”

CAPILANG MALE

(beside ticket centre)

980-2612

Colored, interlocking pavers for driveways,
walkways, and patios.

COLONIAL

A VARIETY OF
CHOICES IN
GARDEN
RETAINING WALLS