Home | Pool News | Florida Man Dies While Draining Pool During Hurricane
A 72-year old Central Florida man died after venturing outside in the midst of Hurricane Ian to drain his swimming pool. The elderly man left his Deltona home sometime after 1 a.m., according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the victim’s wife called after he never came back to their home on Poinciana Lane near Lake Bethel.
Upon investigating the scene, deputies found the man’s flashlight and located him laying in a canal behind the home. “Several deputies pulled the victim from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but the victim could not be revived,” a statement from the sheriff’s office said.
Sad news to report: A 72-year-old Deltona man lost his life overnight after going outside during the storm to drain his pool. Deputies pulled him from a canal and performed CPR but were unable to revive him. https://t.co/18gImufcTs
Investigators told reporters the victim had been using a hose to drain the water from his swimming pool down a hill and into the canal. They believe he fell due to the steep decline and because the ground was soggy and slick from the storm.
Governor Rick DeSantis has reported two fatalities in the state of Florida so far due to Hurricane Ian. It’s unclear right now whether this death was among the list of fatalities that he reported. A fatality connected to Hurricane Ian has also been confirmed in Osceola County, Florida which had seen unprecedented flooding, with local hospitals and airports inundated by surging waters. Local officials are concerned there may be more given the approximate 14 inches of rain that fell throughout many parts of the county.
DeSantis described the damage Ian has caused as “historic” and said: “You’re looking at a storm that has changed the character of a significant part of our state.” The governor predicted that reconstruction efforts may take years.
Florida Pool Industry Braces For Hurricane Ian
Pool News coverage brought to you by Pool Magazine's own Marcus Packer. Marcus Packer is a 20 year pool industry veteran pool builder and pool service technician. In addition to being a swimming pool professional, Marcus has been a writer and long time contributor for Newsweek Magazine's home improvement section and more recently for Florida Travel + Life. Have a story idea or tip you'd like to share with Pool Magazine? Email [email protected] your story idea.
Florida Pool Industry Braces For Hurricane Ian
As tropical storm Ian approaches and intensifies into a full-blown hurricane, the pool industry in Florida is bracing for its first serious storm of the year. Ian represents the ninth named storm of 2022 and is forecast to reach category 4 hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall in Florida and will be the first for the state since 2018.
Meteorologists began tracking Ian roughly 255 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, Saturday evening moving west at 16 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Typically after a hurricane, pool industry professionals will experience a spike in calls for service and maintenance. This can mean everything from removing branches, debris, and sometimes even patio furniture from swimming pools. Since stormwater has a higher pH, chemical maintenance calls are also in high frequency after a hurricane. Damage to pool covers, patio enclosures, and fences also has a higher probability during a hurricane.
Consequently, pool service technicians throughout any area where a hurricane has made landfall may find that they are inundated with calls afterward, depending on the severity of the storm. Homeowners may find difficulty finding an available pool technician right after a hurricane and should make preparations before hand to mitigate potential damage to their pool and backyard.
Due to the high-force winds and potential for costly damage in the backyard, pool owners are advised to take precautions to secure their swimming pool area before the storm hits. The Florida Swimming Pool Association has some practical advice on how to secure your backyard during a hurricane.
Hurricane #Ian Advisory 14A: Ian Continues to Intensify. Conditions in Western Cuba to Deteriorate This Evening and Tonight With Significant Wind and Storm Surge Impacts Expected. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
Look for dead or overhanging branches that could cause problems in high winds to your pool, patio enclosure, and home.
All things not securely fastened down should be moved in case of a storm. (This includes smaller items like toys and decorations)
The first question people ask is, “Will the pool overflow, do I need to reduce the water level in my pool?”
Since most swimming pools are built with adequate drainage, the answer is “no”. You don’t need to lower the water level in your pool before a hurricane. In fact, the weight of the water in the pool is what can keep it from popping from the ground when a heavy storm causes excessive groundwater.
Pump motors, lights, chlorinators, and heaters should all have their main circuit breakers turned off. In the event that flooding is anticipated, the best advice may be to simply disconnect your equipment and store it in a dry place until the storm is over.
Adding a dose of “shock” to the pool before a storm is a smart idea. The addition of liquid or granular chlorine will help prevent contamination from the expected debris and excessive storm water that will get into the pool.
Travel enthusiasts are trekking out in search of a hidden waterfall pool that recently went viral on social media. Local officials, however, warn against the dangers of the perilous terrain associated with the picturesque location. They advise caution for those seeking it out.
Woy Woy Waterfall Pool is a (not-so) secret hidden man-made pool that lies within the heart of the Brisbane Water National Park, located approximately 85km north of Sydney, Australia. On social media, you’ll find hundreds if not thousands of videos and photos of people enjoying the scenic man-made pool.
“I’ve lived in Woy Woy for years and never knew this place even existed,” said one local in response to an online post.
Travelers thinking about visiting the local attraction have been warned to be especially careful near the pool’s narrow ledge.
“This is a dangerous area, so please take precautions. We’ve already had one visitor recently fall and require medical evacuation by helicopter ” one person responded.
A post shared by MARY F. | ONLINE FITNESS COACH (@maryfittipaldi)
While travelers from all over enjoy swimming in the man-made pool, some locals have cautioned visitors that the water may not be as safe as they think.
“The water is from a nearby waste management facility, definitely be careful putting your head underwater,” one person responded.
“When you realize that it’s a sewage outlet,” another commented.
“Nice spot, but don’t swim in it after rains as (the pool is) linked to runoff and has lots of fecal coliforms,” a third person said.
According to Daily Mail, a waste management facility that uses the same waterway as Woy Woy Falls is located a short distance away.
For those truly adventurous souls that are still determined to check the place out, WalkMyWorld has a step-by-step guide on how to find this hidden Aussie waterfall pool.
Featured Photo Credit: Instagram / Delwynk
For those fortunate enough to have a pool at their residence, swimming can be a great way to to unwind during the summer months. While swimming pools are an excellent way to relax, stray voltage in the pool can pose a significant threat. Stray voltage typically occurs through improperly grounded pool equipment.
Before you can figure out how to stop stray voltages from happening, you need to know what it is. In most layman of terms, stray voltage exists when unconstrained currents leak from an electrical source. When swimmers or pets come in contact, stray voltage can even prove fatal.
Most first shocks from stray voltages are less than 10 volts, which is not very strong. When a person gets into the pool or touches a handrail or ladder that is connected to the pool, they may feel a small tingling or stinging sensation. Children are more sensitive to sensory input than adults are, so they often notice these small shocks before adults do.
A faulty transformer or electrical cable can often be the source of stray voltage in the swimming pool. This leaking current then travels through the ground in an attempt to deplete its energy. Just like a lightning strike, it uses the Earth’s ground as a pathway.
In reality, these voltages can be found under the soil of most homes. Your family could be in danger even if your home’s electrical system meets all applicable standards.
One of the most likely places to find stray voltage is in a swimming pool, simply because electrical current has much less resistant transit in the presence of water. When electricity flows from an electrical outlet and into another conductive item, like a metal water pipe, metal support beam, or concrete slab, this is known as “stray voltage.”
Until the electric supply is cut or the power source of the energy is removed, the electricity will remain in the water. Having poor electrical wiring, inadequate GFCI protection for outlets and circuits, and electrical cords and appliances coming into contact with water are the three most common causes of electrocution in swimming pools.
Electrocution in a swimming pool is very rare, but it is still a risk for anyone who owns a pool. Consequently, it’s important to know what to look for if there’s an electric current in the pool and how to stop it.
It used to be common practice to embed metal rebar into concrete floors (for concrete stability). Metal was the preferred conductor of electricity, rather than concrete, and stray voltage was not a major worry back in those days.
Stray current became a problem as the concrete industry began incorporating additional components into the mix and rebar was no longer required on every build. As a result, contact voltage has been linked to far too many incidences of injury and even death.
There is no visible sign or way to tell if the water in the swimming pool contains enough electricity to kill. Most of the time, people don’t feel electrical current right away when they get into the pool. This is a lesson New Jersey homeowner James Volk learned first-hand.
A Brick family discovered an electrical current running through their yard and pool. Now they are seeking help to shut it down. https://t.co/p5VoT9UfWe
“My wife, my mother-in-law, and my daughter were in the pool, and my wife went to go clean out the skimmer basket,” Volk told news sources. “When she stuck her hand in, she got shocked so bad that she felt it down to her feet, like tingling, numbness.”
The entire family has learned to tread lightly around the pool area as some have experienced these shocks outside of the pool. The family is currently investigating what is causing the issue and have closed their pool until they can determine the cause.
Protecting swimmers in the pool from stray voltage should be of top priority. With proper wiring, the risk of stray voltage can be greatly mitigated. Wiring and grounding will also function better. Consequently, consideration of how to safeguard against stray current starts during construction of the pool itself.
Stray voltage can occur suddenly if problems develop on the grounded or neutral side of an electrical system. Equipment which may have worked perfectly for years can malfunction if something out of the ordinary occurs.
Every pool with underwater lighting, a pump to move the water, or electric heating has a chance that the water could become electrically charged if there is an electrical fault. Most experts would advise to add equipotential bonding grids under the pool and deck in order to provide stray voltage an alternative pathway.
A pool should be electrically safe to swim in if it has been constructed right and has an equipotential deck surface with all of its components properly bonded.
If you do suspect your pool has stray voltage, a device known as a “shock alert” can be used to check for electricity in the pool water. If there is electricity in the water, the shock alert will let you know by beeping and flashing red. This would indicate that there is electricity in the water and swimmers should stay out. If the device flashes green, on the other hand, it would indicate that there is no voltage and the pool is safe to swim in.
The best advice is to avoid contact with any stray voltages at all costs. Seek the assistance of a licensed electrician as soon as possible if you think you have this issue close to your pool or spa. Do not allow anyone, including humans and pets, near the pool until the issue has been resolved.
The electrical code has seen in significant evolution during the past recent decades. It’s possible that the bonds in many older swimming pools were nefver properly installed or constructed to begin with. A wiring fault or issue with your electrical provider are also additional possibilities. There are a number of potential causes of stray voltages, so it’s best to have a qualified electrical contractor check it out and fix it. The majority of problems have very simple solutions.
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