Each year more than 300 children
under the age of five drown in home swimming pools. Another
2600 end up in emergency rooms with submerging related injuries.
Now it's true that most of those drownings and injuries happen
during the swimming season. But during the off season,
when the pool is closed, it still represents a hazard.
Click here to view a full video
of this segment.
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This simulation shows what would happen if a child fell in. Within seconds of hitting the water, the weight pulls the cover away from the pool deck and sinks with the pool cover closing over on top. This goes to show the importance of a safe pool cover.
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| After doing some research, a few days later Phil Saltzman from the Meyco Company showed up to begin taking measurements. |
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| First he drives a metal stake into the ground, measures off twenty feet … then drives in a second stake. |
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| Next, he makes a series of chalk marks around the pool perimeter at regular intervals. |
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| Then measures the distance to each mark from stake A and stake B. |
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Now this is where that old high school geomtry comes in. By putting those measurements into a computer, it’s possible to accurately plot the pool’s shape and dimensions and make custom cover that will fit precisely. |
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A few weeks later, it arrives. After unpacking, the cover is pulled over the pool for a test fit. |
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Five gallon buckets of water are used as weights so that most of the wrinkles can be pulled out. |
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Once it’s in place, Phil’s assistant, Gen Gallado, verifies that the scale drawing generated by the computer is the same as the actual cover. |
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It will take a lot of tension to stretch this cover taut and that will be provided by a series of forty two high tension springs. Each of which has to be attached to a reinforced strap, then cover with a protective plastic sleeve. |
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| Next, Gen measures back from the edge of the pool and marks the deck at each strap location. |
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Then Phil sets up his hammer drill and begins boring holes at each mark. |
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| Brass casings are set into the holes... |
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| ...and driven into place. |
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| Then spring loaded inserts are dropped inside the casings... |
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| ...and locked in position with an allen wrench. |
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