SORTING POOL SAFETY

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A check list to help prevent drownings

Is the latch on the gate to your swimming pool working properly? Are there any parts of the fence small children might crawl under? Checking these and other aspects of a pool is one of the things New Zealanders can do to help children stay safe around swimming pools.

Dr Felicity Dumble, chair of the Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee, says pool drownings are highly preventable. “We encourage everyone to follow some routine fence checks and make sure anything that could allow inadvertent access is repaired.”

Checks and other advice include:

• Ensure the gate latch clicks shut automatically. Over time the spring can become less effective. Hold the gate open at varying distances from the lock and check it springs shut and fully latches • Never prop the gate open • Ensure there are no gaps under the gate when it is closed and there is no part of the fence small children could crawl under (maximum permissible gap between ground and fence/gate is 100mm) • Check the condition of a metal fence. The joints can become weak due to rust and have been known to come apart with a firm tug • Check the condition of a timber fence. As the structure ages, the screws and nails can loosen and allow the slats to be removed.

Similarly, the wood can age and weaken, so any rotting sections should be replaced • Always keep moveable objects (such as plastic chairs, bricks or pot plants) well away from the pool area. A child can drag them and then use them to climb over the fence

• Remove any tree branches that could allow a child to gain access to the pool area • Clear toys from the pool area, so it is not tempting for children to go in. Local councils throughout New Zealand can offer guidance on ensuring your pool meets all the safety regulations. Further information is available at Water Safety New Zealand: www.watersafety.org.nz.

Testing the waters

Schools are required by law to test their swimming pool water to ensure they are safe to swim in.

Swimming Pools are treated to keep the microorganism population down to levels which are considered safe for bathers and the quality of the water depends on the efficiency of the water treatment.

To gauge this, a testing programme has been set up with accepted guidelines as per the New Zealand Standard for Pool Water Quality NZS 5826:2010. Four different tests are carried out and below is an explanation of each:

Standard Plate Count

This test looks for the total number of general bacteria, which present in the water. If there are high counts of bacteria it may be indicative of a problem, and “where there is smoke, there may well be fire”.

Faecal Coliform Count

This is an indicator test which looks at the presence of bacteria of faecal origin. If faecal coliforms are present, it indicates that there is a possibility that other bacteria associated with the gut, such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, may also be present. These bacteria can cause sickness.

Staphylococcus aureus Count

This bacteria can cause skin irritations especially in wounds, cuts or abrasions. It can also cause sickness if swallowed or ingested. It can be found in infected wounds or in the nasal cavity when you have a cold.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Count

This bacteria is associated with eye and ear infections when dunking the head in swimming pools.

Spa and swimming pool guidelines

NZ5826:2010 Standard Guidelines

• Standard Plate Count: (less than) <200 bacteria per ml water • Faecal Coliform Count: (less than) <1 bacteria per 100mls water • Staphylococcus aureus Count: (less than) <100 bacteria per 100mls water

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Teague’s Cleaning

Kyle and Lisa, along with their wonderful team, enjoy supporting their local schools.

One of the major ways Teague’s offer support is they teamed up with a local cleaning supplier. When a school accepts a contract with Teague’s Commercial and Domestic Services, they are offered an opportunity for huge saving on the school cleaning consumables, toilet paper and hand towels. In most cases it is a 40 to 50 percent saving. Teague’s Commercial and Domestic Services are currently the only company that provide this from Oamaru to Clinton.

Kyle and Lisa know that the savings generated is extremely beneficial for school activities and resources, to encourage and expand young learning minds. Teague’s Commercial and Domestic Services have also recently introduced a client portal. This enables each client to have 24/7 access to their own information, keeping a track on all cleaning and tasks completed. Teague’s Cleaning is a family run cleaning company owned by Kyle and Lisa. Between them they have over 10 years’ commercial and residential cleaning experience, over 20 years’ management experience and an extensive background in customer service. This friendly duo is committed to delivering immaculate cleaning services and property maintenance at affordable prices. Teague’s Cleaning has deliberately kept their rates affordable so that more people can access their cleaning services. Kyle and Lisa have five children and understand how demanding life can be. Teague’s Cleaning has high standards of cleanliness and is here to ensure your school, house or commercial premises are spotless. Get in touch with Teague’s Cleaning today. You will be delighted with the prices and the immaculate results. “Kyle and Lisa know that the savings generated is extremely beneficial for school activities and resources, to encourage and expand young learning minds.”

Immaculate cleaning services for residential and commercial customers in Otago

Teague’s Cleaning has over 10 years’ residential and commercial cleaning experiences and combines affordable prices with outstanding customer care. Dunedin and Otago customers rely on Teague’s Cleaning for a spotless and hygienic home or work environment. • Commercial cleaning • Domestic cleaning • Carpet cleaning • Window cleaning • Oven cleaning • End of tenancy house cleans • House cleans needing a thorough move out cleaning service

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