With Pool Lifts - Now Everybody can Enjoy the Summer and Go Swimming


I was just checking the temperature outside and it is 98 degrees with a heat index of 107 degrees and well, although it is summer in Georgia it is still really hot, I tell you what.  So, during the dog days of summer, when the sun boils down and breathing the spongy humid air is a chore, one of the best places to be is submerged in some nice, cool water.  Playing in the water like an otter on a hot, blistering day is as good of an idea as adding more ice to a sweating glass of sweet tea. 

And while oceans, lakes and rivers are fun to go to and enjoy during the day, the watery places that are most visited are public pools.  Sure, there are oceans to the east and west, great lakes up north and a gulf down south for people to enjoy but for most of the country, the rest of us are splashing around in swimming pools.

For many people, going to a swimming pool, either for fun and enjoyment or for exercise and relaxation, is a great way to get wet and feel almost weightless.  But for people with disabilities, getting in and out of the pool can be a difficult and dangerous process and for some, impossible.  That is why on July 23rd, 2010, new revisions now require pools, wave pools, lazy rivers, kiddie pools and spas to have accessible means of entry/exit for people with disabilities. These new rules took effect on January 23rd, 2011 and compliance will be required within 18 months of when it was published in the Federal Register, which was July 26, 2010.

So, in a nutshell, what this means is that by 2012 all public swimming pools must have a safer way for people who have difficulties getting in and out of pools, be it a sloped entry or pool lift.  I have to add that according to a reader's comment post in an earlier library article, not all public or commercial pools will need a pool lift.  Basically, it may read that if a pool is closed to the public, pools in places which require paying guests or paying members, that these pools may not need a pool lift. 

Yet it might behoove clubs and apartment buildings which do have a pool not to risk losing a population of customers who may need the use of a pool lift chair.  People of all shapes, sizes, looks and blemishes love to float and play and feel the sensation of just being in water.  So what if some people need a little extra help getting in and out of the pool? Everyone should have the opportunity for aquatic experiences.

Rehabmart  can offer pool lifts of different sizes and mobility.  One of these is the Hoyer Swimming Pool Lift which has a range of 62 inches and a 360 degree swivel which allows the hydraulic unit to gently move a person from a sitting position, or from a wheelchair, into the pool's water.  
               
From library.rehabmart.com
 
This latex free pool lift comes equipped with a cement in-floor sleeve and cover and can lift up to 400 pounds.
 
If that pool lift doesn't float your boat, then how about the most technologically advanced pool access lift available on the market today? The Aqua Creek Pro Pool Lift ™ is an ADA compliant specialty pool product used to provide handicap access in aquatic therapy and residential and commercial water recreation.
 
   From library.rehabmart.com    From library.rehabmart.com
 
The Pro Pool Lift™ is inarguably the most technically advanced pool access lift available on the market today. It features a compact design, a rechargeable 24 volt battery, stainless steel construction, and a UV resistant powder coat finish. In addition to the low-profile design, the Pro Pool Lift™ does not intrude into the pool when NOT in use and includes a submergible remote control handset, dual flip up arms and a flip-up footrest.
 
The Pro Pool Lift not your cup of tea?  Than how about a revolutionary pool lift idea with Aqua Creek's The Revolution Pool Lift™.  This pool lift has quickly become a very popular lift with its many accessories and a 500 pound weight capacity.  This is a versatile lift designed for use on BOTH in-ground and above-ground pools and spas! 
            
From library.rehabmart.com

 This innovative new lift incorporates many of the features customers have been requesting the most. For example, a versatile lift that can be adapted to most pools and can also accommodate heavier patrons!  The Revolution Lift has a weight capacity of 500 pounds which is 100 pounds more than the standard weight capacity of most of the lifts on the market today.  The Revolution also has dual flip-up arms, an adjustable lap belt and a removable and adjustable foot rest.  It also has a full 360 degree powered rotation in either direction and the ability to clear a 30 inch high wall, along with the ability to service multiple pools and spas in close proximity.

So get out of the heat and into the pool this summer...no matter who you are, a public pool should be accessible for all to enjoy.  To be able to feel...everything...at once when submerged in the water, to experience the feeling of floating, to share a place and time with family and friends, this is the thing that memories are made from.  A pool lift can help give a new memory to a person with just a simple push of a button.  Why not?

If you want to view some more pool lifts, doggy paddle on over to the Pool Lift page.


Bill Stock
Library Editor for Rehabmart
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO