Aqua Blue Pools

Lowcountry Family Gets Customized Special Needs Swimming Pool

Special Needs Swimming Pool Gives Freedom of Mobility to One Lowcountry Family

Recently a Lowcountry family had a swimming pool especially designed for their daughters. Lots of families in the Lowcountry have a swimming pool; but very few if any have had a pool specifically designed around the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their children.

Although the family's name cannot be mentioned as of yet, two of their daughters are handicapped. One daughter has been able to go swimming because she is somewhat capable of walking with assistance. Their other daugher has not been able to swim at all, because they have no way of getting her out of the pool. They've had to use life jackets and other flotation devices to allow them to move around the pool on their own while under constant adult supervision.

But with their new beach entry or zero entry pool, they will be able to roll them into the pool in a wheelchair and then float them off the chair so they can enjoy the pool. They will no longer have to physically struggle themselves to get their daughters into and out of the swimming pool. Not to mention, the girls will be able to move about more freely in the water than anywhere else. 

What is a beach entry or zero entry pool?

A beach entry or zero entry pool is a swimming pool where the point of entry is without the usual steps you would see in a swimming pool. Instead of using stairs, the entry point gently slopes straight from the pool deck into the swimming pool. It is a continuous slope which allows for easy access with people using wheelchairs or any other devices that help them to get around such as walkers. Basically, you would walk into the pool just like you would the ocean... hence the phrase beach entry.

How aquatic exercise helps disabled children

A study in the November 2008 issue of “Development Medicine and Child Neurology” investigated the effectiveness and safety of an aquatic exercise program for disabled children. Researchers enrolled 16 children between the ages of 6 and 11 for a twice-per-week program for 14 weeks. In the program, children swam laps and participated in relay races; they used barbells, aquatic “noodles” and water resistance for strength training. The study found significant improvements in isometric muscle strength and motor skills. The authors concluded that children with disabilities can improve cardiovascular and respiratory endurance through aquatic exercise programs. In addition being in the water gives them the abililty to move more independently than anywhere else which helps to improve their overall emotional health. Below is a listing of just some of the ways Aquatic therapy physically helps a person:

Buoyancy - Provides assistance and support.  It is used to decrease gravitational forces placed on weak limbs that are less able to bear weight.  Buoyancy allows a person to move more easily with decreased stress on muscles, joints, and bones.

Heat - Aquatic therapy is provided in a heated pool, temperatures ranging from 94-96 degrees.  The warm water relaxes muscles and allows for improved joint range of motion.

Hydrostatic Pressure - The water surrounding the body helps circulate blood from the legs to the heart, often reducing any swelling in the ankles and feet.  Once swelling is reduced, joint tenderness may decrease and range of motion can increase.

Resistance - Allows for improvement in balance and strength in all muscle directions.  On land, resistance is felt in only one direction, which leads to an over development of some muscles and under utilization of others.  Resistance also increases sensory awareness.

Who can help customize special needs swimming pool designs?

According to the family a Lowcountry pool builder, Aqua Blue Pools, got very involved in the whole process. Craig Crompton that designed the pool, and Bill Ward the Project Superintendent forged a working relationship with the home-builder and the family to build a pool that according to the family is the finest, personalized special needs pool in the area. A pool where they think the final product is evidence that their family's needs have been the driving efforts behind everyone on the team to get them the swimming pool they require.

 

 

 

Healthy Living with a Swimming Pool

 

Lifestyles for children are much different today than it was for children of the 70's or earlier.

Do you remember playing outdoors when you were a kid? Children no longer play outdoors nearly as much as they used to. Here in the Lowcountry the temperatures get so hot during the spring and summer seasons that it can make being outdoors unbearable. 

So how do you get relief? Swim! Whether you swim in the ocean, a river, a lake, in your community pool, or your very own swimming pool... keep swimming! Statistics show superb health benefits from swimming over all other forms of exercise. There's even a top ten list!

1.  The ability to do more with less - When submerged in a swimming pool, your body bears less weight allowing for the ability to perform exercises with the proper form.
2.  Increased muscle tone and strength - Physical movement is excellence, but nothing beats the resistance you can get in the water. Swimming has been proven to increase bone strength, especially in post-menopausal women.
3.  Improved flexibility - Swimming puts the body through a broad range of motion that helps joints and ligaments stay loose and flexible.
4.  A healthier heater - Because swimming is an aerobic exercise, it serves to strengthen the heart, not only helping it to become larger, but making it more efficient in pumping -- which leads to better blood flow throughout your body.
5.  Weight control - Swimming is now recognized as one of the biggest calorie burners around, and it's great for keeping weight under control.
6.  Improved asthma symptoms - Some studies have shown that swimming can actually improve the condition overall.  They saw improvements in symptom severity, snoring, mouth-breathing, and hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Even up to a year after the swimming program was complete!
7.  Improved cholesterol - For every 1 percent increase in HDL cholesterol, the risk of dying from heart disease drops by 3.5 percent.
8.  Lower risk of diabetes -  When it comes to warding off diabetes, there are few prescriptions as powerful as aerobic exercise.
9.  Lower stress, higher spirits and a better brain - William Wilson wrote in the 1883 book, "The Swimming Instructor": "The experienced swimmer, when in the water, may be classed among the happiest of mortals in the happiest of moods, and in the most complete enjoyment of the happiest of exercises."
10. You just might live longer -  No promise of Aquaman-like immortality, but it seems that swimming can at least help you avoid dying prematurely. Researchers at the University of South Carolina followed 40,547 men, aged 20 to 90, for 32 years and discovered that those who swam had a 50 percent lower death rate than runners, walkers or men who got no exercise. 

 

How Children Live - Then and Now

Then (circa 1950)	Now
Children walked to school.	Children ride a bus to school or are driven by a parent.
Family meals were eaten at the table.	Meals are often fast food, often eaten in cars.
Portion sizes were smaller.	Portions are supersized.
Physical environment included porches, sidewalks in neighborhoods.	No porches, no sidewalks in modern subdivisions.
No air conditioning forced kids to go outside for cool air.	Air conditioning makes staying inside comfortable.
Children played neighborhood games, rode bikes, exercised large muscles.	Children play video games, use computers, watch TV, and use the remote to change channels.
Parents didn’t worry as much when sending children outside to play.	Parents and kids are apprehensive of playing outside.
Physical education was a required class in school.	Physical education is not always offered by schools.
Athletes were expected to be smaller.	Athletes are expected to be larger and bulkier.
Intramural sports were available in school.	Competitive sports may be the only ones offered in school.
School food options were limited.	Schools have food courts, vending machines.
Few organized after-school activities, more time to play after school.	Frantic driving all over town to get to extracurricular activities, meals on the run.
Moms were often at home.	Moms are often in the workplace.
Two-parent families were more common.	Single-parent families are more common and are often strapped for time and money.

 

"Water" you waiting for?! Call today!

843-767-7665

Meet Lowcountry Dog Star and How to Safely Introduce Your Dog to the Swimming Pool

There is one furry Aqua Blue Pools customer who could not wait for his swimming pool to be ready for the season. So Linus Leibowitz decided to take matters into his own hands by operating the Bob Cat to dig the pool. He knew that using this piece of equipment would get the job done a lot faster than using his own forearms! What a very smart dog Linus is!

^{Meet Aqua Blue Pools' latest dig crew member, Linus Leibowitz!}

Linus loves swimming in his newly renovated pool!

 

Now that you've got a swimming pool and you've introduced your human family to swimming and pool safety, what about your dog? 

 

For some reason the general consensus is that all dogs like the water and are born swimmers, but that's not neccessarily true.

 

If you're a new swimming pool owner and you have pets, especially dogs... you need to familiarize your furry family member with the pool and swimming.

 

Click the image below for an informative video on the best ways to familiarize your dog with the swimming pool!

Click Image

 

How to teach Dogs to Swim

1. Take the canine to a quiet place where there is not lots of noise. This could be considered a quiet pool or even the shallow component of the lake. Puppies will have difficulty concentrating or may well get anxious if there is truly lots of music and movement nearby.

2. Put the lifejacket on your dog. While it is not required, it allows the individual helper to hold their arms away from the canine throughout the swimming lesson without the dread of drowning. 

3. Enter the pool or shallow lake. Since the canine is learning to swim within pool, 1st acquaint him using the entrance toward the pool. Continually put him in pool at the similar area and help him walk out.

4. Hold the dog's midsection and hindquarters and permit him to paddle utilizing all 4 legs. Ensure he is not just utilizing his top two legs -- otherwise he will sink. It should certainly start looking like he is running. Utilizing treats as a reward may very well help get him into the appropriate position.

5. Continue the lesson for an additional 10 minutes. Use rewards and speak utilizing an upbeat and positive voice.

6. VERY IMPORTANT! Show the canine the best way to exit the pool or shallow lake. This is especially significant within a swimming pool since the steps cannot be seen. Perhaps using the skamper ramp product or cones at the steps will help Fido or Fifi find their way out. Invest time in reinforcing the exit process.

7. Wash the canine away with shampoo after the swimming lessons. Dry out his ears and confirm his eye for irritation from your chlorine as well.

 

Cheers to a safe summer for you and your family!

 

 

 

 

While We're Swimming in our Pools, Going to the Beach, Cooking on the Grill

While we're all splashing it up swimming in our pools, hitting the beach for some fun in the surf, and grilling out our favorite fare... do you remember why Memorial Day exists?

Why not offer up a bit of Operation Rest and Relax for our heroes coming home?

 

^{Operation R & R - Hiton Head Island, SC}

Operation R & R - Operation R&R is a non-profit organization designed to provide our service men and women an opportunity to reconnect with their spouses and children upon their return from Iraq, Afghanistan, or other world-wide deployments without their family. 

Property owners, represented by many property management companies, are donating their homes and villas around Hilton Head Island and Charleston, SC for this purpose. 

All of this is to ensure that our military families have a chance to spend some time away from their everyday lives to strengthen relationships that have been strained due to long separations and extreme circumstances.

 

The Story of Stars and Stripes Honor Flight - Documentary Trailer

Operation Resolve - Have you heard of Operation Resolve? The mission, Operation Resolve, is simple:  Send every living World War II veteran to the stunning memorial created in their name in Washington, DC, before it's too late.

 
To help make that happen and to tell the remarkable stories of these heroes, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight teamed up with Freethink Media to produce a feature length documentary film to be released on August 11, 2012 at Miller Park - the Milwaukee Brewers baseball stadium.

 

 

Remember and honor our fallen heroes and those currently serving our country and fighting for our freedom. We can never thank them enough.

Be Safe, Have Fun, and Happy Memorial Day from your Friends at Aqua Blue Pools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to Stone Design Being Held in Mt. Pleasant for all Design Professionals

This event is one that you don't want to miss!

For centuries, natural stone has played a huge role in the building materials selected for monumental structures, timeless gardens, and treasured sculptures.

These natural stones are revered once again and have made a huge comeback in the design/build industry.

A one-hour class has been designed for architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and all design/build professionals desiring to gain a full understanding of natural stone as a building material.

When: Monday, May 21st  |   5:30 p.m.

Where: Zeus Grill and Seafood, Mt. Pleasant  |  725 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard  Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Click here for driving directions to the event.

Please RSVP your name, phone number, and number attending by emailing to csicharleston@gmail.com (Registration details are below)

You will learn more about the various natural stones (limestone, travertine, onyx, marble, serpentine, sandstone, slate, quartzite, and granite).

Obtain information about common quarrying techniques, fabrication, and finishing methods. With this understanding, you'll enhance your ability to select the right stone, fabrication technique, and finish for your project.

^{The Wood Nymph at Middleton Gardens circa 1810}

Learning objectives include:

1. Obtain a better understanding for the various types of stone.
2. Learn about common quarrying techniques.
3. Gain knowledge about stone fabrication and finishing methods.

• AIA Course Number: MIA01, 1.0 HSW LU
• ASID, IDC, IDEC, IIDA Course Number: 5740, Subject Code: 5.0, 0.1 HSW CEU
• ASLA Course Number: ASLA1, 1.0 HSW LU
• NKBA: 0.1 CEU

This promises to be a fun and interesting program!

Cost (includes meal):

• $0 Members (current CSI Charleston members)
• $0 Students (with ID)
• $12 Non-Members & Guests of Members
• Please bring cash or make check payable to CSI Charleston Chapter

To become a member of CSI Charleston Chapter you can visit their website at charleston.csinet.org or you can email your interest to csicharleston@gmail.com.

 

Happy Mother's Day Mom... We Love You!

The origin of Mother's Day goes back to the era of the ancient Greeks and Romans. But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in the UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. 

So here's to you Mom, thanks for all that you do... and all that you've done. But most of all, thanks for being Mom!

 

Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mothers day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well wisher. 

 

 

 

Natural Swimming Pools

Natural Swimming Pools Built by Man to Work with Nature - Known to be the first of its Kind in South Carolina

America is experiencing a "green" evolution.  An evolution in regard to everything from construction to travel and clothing to food preparation, and the list goes on. 

But did you expect a green pool? We're not talking energy-efficiency.... but working with mother nature in order to create a truly natural environment for your swimming pool. More of a natural alternative than the traditional chlorinated way of doing things.

You guessed it, this is about a natural pool without chemicals. The first of its kind in our great state of South Carolina was built by the only Master Pools builder in the Columbia, South Carolina area... The Clearwater Company. 

The idea is to get the swimming pool to be as close to a freshwater pond as possible. Basically it works like a giant aquarium, carefully selecting the appropriate vegetation for the surroundings and natural sanitizing.

So that using chlorine is avoided, an enormous filter pulls water into a secondary filter, which will then zap the water with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. The water is then pumped back into to the pool via a waterfall. To keep algae at bay, the right variety and density of water plants must be established along the pool's edges, and this can take up to two years. Until then, the pool requires monitoring and cleaning to keep algae from building up. Patience is required for projects of this magnitude. 

Project Construction Summary

The Clearwater Company constructed the waterfall with boulders from Winnsboro, as well as flat-stacked stones and river rocks. The pool is a figure-eight shape with a dept of 12 feet at one circlye and three to five feet at the other. River rock and granite stone cover the larger filter at the shallow end of the pool. The deck surrounding the pool are crab orchard stone slabs from tennessee.

This is an ideal pool design for the environmentalist... calling all nature lovers! To learn more about natural pools, you can contact a Master Pools builder in your area. 

 

 

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Pools Under Construction

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Swimming Pools

Here's the latest video update from Liz with Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Cool video and great information on resort pools progress and openings!

Liz describes the features for the Night Heron Park family pool, Night Heron Children's Park pool and play area, and the West Beach Pool too.

 

Below are a few images of Night Heron Children's Park swimming pool and play area progress:

 

Below are a few images of Kiawah Island Golf Resort's West Beach swimming pool and play area progress:

... Stay tuned for more project updates in the next issue of Aqua Blue Pools News!

 

 

 

 

 

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Pools Under Construction - Night Heron Children's Park

 

Night Heron Children's Park Swimming Pool

Now that the West Beach swimming pool and water play sets are installed. It's time to update you on the latest resort swimming pool project at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The Children's Swimming Pool at Night Heron Park is underway!  The swimming pool has been dug, the stub plumbing is set, the steel is tied, and the swimming pool shell is completed.

 

Digging the pool

Stub plumbing the pool

 

Tying the steel

 

Shooting the swimming pool shell

The following are on the team of Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Swimming Pool projects:

Developer: Kiawah Island Golf Resort 
Architect: Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects Inc., Mount Pleasant 
General contractor: Hill Construction, Charleston 
Landscape Architect: Designworks, Charleston;  Engineers: Thomas & Hutton, Mount Pleasant (civil); Atlantic Engineering, Mount Pleasant (structural); ECHO Engineering, Mount Pleasant (mechanical/electrical/plumbing);  ;  Swimming Pool Contractor: Aqua Blue Pools, Charleston (pool designer) 

Estimated completion date: Summer 2012

 

Stay tuned for future updates in the next Aqua Blue Pools News.

Hidden Swimming Pools that Magically Appear

 

Fear not! If you're limited on space there is an alternative. You can hide your swimming pool underneath the deck area!

 

It truly is a case of now you see it, now you don't. Seriously, no abracadabra or hocus pocus here, these swimming pools really do magically disappear and reappear.

Occassionally a backyard will not have enough space to add a swimming pool and deck area. Although at times it appears there is plenty of room for the pool area, there may not be. Rules imposed by local municipalities, OCRM - Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, FEMA's latest revised flood map (UGH!), and home owner's associations will play a role in establishing the parameters within the space of where the swimming pool area can designed and built. They will dictate things like:

• What setback requirements are from the side and rear property lines
• If the pool can be built above grade 
• If the pool can be built at grade
• Lot coverage percentages in relation to pervious and imprevious materials

 

Your swimming pool can virtually be hidden from sight by moving the floor. It's an architectural marvel by today's standards.

Check out the mechanics behind the submersible booms:

 

Hydrofloors are movable floors that allow a homeowner to fully exploit the pool area surface by converting it into a terrace making room for other uses such as social events, dining, and dancing.

The system is nearly invisible, flexible, rapidly adaptable, and safe. The concept is that the floor height of the pool may be set at a variety of pre-set water depths to accomodate a multitude of needs such as either a wading depth for children; or a depth suited to those with special needs. This makes the swimming pool diverse and multifunctional. Additionally, since the pool is fully closed, energy costs for heating are greatly reduced.

So if the space you have is limited, with today's technology... nearly anything is possible.  For a private consultation contact your swimming pool contractor.