LilSugar

When Poop Hits the Pool

babysugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:00 PDT

Any child of the 80s will have a hard time forgetting the Baby Ruth scene from Caddyshack. But contrary to Bill Murray's declaration, it is a big deal when a tot poops in a pool. The dark matter can spread bacteria like E. Coli and Hepatitis A, parasites or other germs. A thick unbroken stool is often better than a diarrhea type disaster, but in either instance, moms should notify other swimmers and the lifeguard. Unfortunately everyone will have to get out of the water while the matter is removed and chlorine levels are tested and adjusted but at least the chances of infecting others is decreased.

An embarrassing experience for the child and her mother, some moms choose to take their tyke and run, never notifying the pool keeper of the accident. Others put the alert out and cause everyone to get out for at least a small break, if not longer. What would you do if your babe went number two in the pool?
Source

Party by the Pool...And Play It Safe!

LilSugar — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:00:40 PDT

The holiday weekend is in full swing and you've probably got some wet events penciled in on the calendar. If you're planning a poolside soiree, here are some tips to keeping the festivities kid-friendly. While parents are off mingling, it's not uncommon for a tot to slip in the pool for a dip without notice. So plan ahead with these tidbits of advice.

Be Safe While Cooling Off Public Poolside This Summer

LilSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:00:21 PDT

Taking your tots to the local swimming hole may not be as exciting as the one that set the seen for the love affair between Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson in Little Children, but afternoons of Marco Polo and creative diving board tricks will keep you interested. Though lifeguards and management companies are responsible for public pools’ cleanliness and safety, there are several precautions families should take to ensure a great experience.

Before entering a public pool, parents should:

Look to see that the pool water is clean and clear. If you can’t see the bottom drain, the pool is not clean enough to enter.
Make sure the drain covers comply to the new VGB Act. The new covers should have either a domed shape or large grates to prevent swimmers from being entrapped under water.
Ensure that the pool staff have updated certifications in CPR and First Aid.
Keep sick children out of the pool. Even with a swim diaper, tykes with diarrhea can spread waterborne, disease- causing germs such as Cryptosporidium (Crypto).

For tips once your tot has entered the pool,

read more. Upon entering the pool, parents should:

Watch their own children. Don’t rely on the lifeguards to watch your children for you.
Keep children within arms length when in the water.
Encourage lil ones to avoid swallowing pool water. Kids only need to swallow 10 particles of Crypto to get sick.
Take frequent bathroom and diaper check breaks to avoid accidents.
Change diapers in bathrooms, not poolside and wash their hands with soap before reentering the pool.
Reapply sunscreen often as children can still get sunburned while playing in the water.
Comply with lifeguard-instructed adult swim breaks, they are designed to give kiddos a rest.

Source

Kelly Rutherford Battles Ex on Son's Safety Around Home Pool

babysugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:00:47 PDT

All a youngster needs to hear is the words, "swimming pool," to dash in and slip into a bathing suit. For parents, an open body of water means entertaining the "what ifs" that can cause stress and panic. Even well skilled wee swimmers fall victim to tragedy in an unsupervised pool.

Gossip Girl's very pregnant Kelly Rutherford is in a battle with her estranged husband, Daniel Giersch, over pool safety at his residence. Concerned for her 2-year-old son, Hermes' safety, the actress went as far as hiring a private eye to tape her ex's home for three days to illustrate the danger his uncovered pool poses to their young son. In court documents, Giersch said:

Hermes is not in any danger whatsoever with regard to my pool because I have the pool fully covered with an automatic pool cover. Hermes has no access to the pool area unless I take him to the pool myself.

Would you allow your child to stay or visit a home with an uncovered pool?
Source

Would You Buy a Home With a Pool?

LilSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:39 PST

Rumors abound that our favorite tensome, the Gosselins, purchased a beautiful new home complete with an abstract pool. While the thought of a backyard pool conjures up visions of parties and hours of tot fun, the responsibility -not to mention liability - may be more than parents are willing to take on. Would you consider buying a place with a swimming hole?
Source

Turtle Keeps Tykes Safer Around Swimming Pools

LilSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:45:47 PDT

When I take my kids swimming, I'm usually a bit on edge, as my son is attracted to the pool's edge. For parents who want to safeguard their children around water, particularly if they have a pool in their own backyard, this turtle band sensor alerts moms and dads if their lil rascal slips into the pool. Secure Baby's Child Water Safety Alarm ($150) works similar to a baby monitor. A soft turtle wristband is fastened to the tot's arm, and if he ends up getting wet, the base sounds. The set comes with one turtle band, but parents with multiple children can purchase additional ones ($60). While this product acts as an extra method of protection for kids, it should only be used in addition to adult supervision.

Dry Drowning, Boy Dies an Hour After Swimming

LilSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:00:19 PDT

Supervising your children while they swim is a given, but what about once they get out of the pool? A South Carolina boy died one hour after swimming. According to an NBC report, fourth grader, Johnny Jackson died of asphyxiation by drowning, also known as dry drowning after he walked home from his local pool with his mother, had a bath and retired to bed for a nap. Dry drowning, which amounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all drownings or near drownings, occurs after a person swallows fresh or salt water, meaning it can happen even after a tot has been in the tub. And, the child doesn't have to ingest large amounts of fluid so parents should look for warning signs - difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue and abnormal behavior.

26 Fresh Ways to Reuse an Old Yoga Mat

Health — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:06:03 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on FitSugar.

By Su Reid-St. John

If you’ve just eked your millionth sun salutation out of that thin, raggedy rectangle you call a mat, it might be time to spring for a new one. But what to do with the old? Certainly, you could recycle it or even donate it if it isn’t too far gone, or you could tap your inner Martha and try a little creative repurposing:

1. Hang it horizontally in your garage to keep car doors from scraping the walls.

2. Use it as a kitchen mat in front of the stove or sink.

3. Lay it under your sleeping bag on your next camping trip; it won’t provide much in the way of cushioning, but at least you won’t feel every rock and stick.

4. Scrub the heck out of it, then cut it up as liners for shelves and drawers.

5. Make it into floor covers for the backseat area so your kids’ muddy shoes and cleats won’t ruin your mats.

6. Carpet the tree house!

Health.com: Blast It Off With Yoga

7. Cut it into small circles and use them under furniture legs to protect the floor.

8. Wrap it around that attic beam or basement pole you keep running into.

9. Put it under the litter box so the cat won’t track stuff all over the floor.

10. Cut it to fit under slippery rugs to keep them in place.

There are 16 more things to do with that old mat, so keep reading.

Best and Worst Summer Cocktails

Prevention — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:13:51 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Which to drink, which to dodge, and how to lighten them!
By Diana Kelly, Prevention

Whether you'll be sipping daiquiris by the pool, gossiping over gimlets at brunch, or serving up a pitcher of something special at your outdoor party, cooling down with a cocktail is one of summer's great pleasures — and a surefire way to pack on the pounds!

We scoured the menus of national restaurant chains and researched popular drinks to find out how many calories are really in your favorite refreshers. Let's just say that mudslide might sink you in the deep end of the pool.

To the rescue: Christine Avanti, Los Angeles certified nutritionist and author of Skinny Chicks Don't Eat Salads (Rodale, 2009). Here she reveals calorie-trimming tips and swimsuit-friendly alternatives for top summer sippers. And remember, drink ingredients and portion sizes vary widely across locations so ask how it's made and then customize accordingly.

Alcohol Safety: Regular or Diet Soda in Cocktails?

Cheers to a slimmer summer!

Dodge it: Mudslide
Average calories: 500 to 850
This creamy frozen chocolate drink is a grown-up milkshake in disguise. It's probably the worst drink you could choose on the menu. It's usually made with Kahlúa® coffee liqueur, vodka, ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.
Bartender, lighten it up!
Get rid of the ice cream, whipped cream, and the chocolate syrup or go very light on the syrup, says Avanti. Ask the bartender to use only 1 oz. of each liquor. If this is your once-a-year treat and you won't settle for a lighter version of it, at least tell the bartender to only whip up a half-portion of the drink or split it with a friend.

How Bad Are Your Health Vices?

Drink it: Cosmopolitan
Average calories: 220 to 300
This pink beauty gained popularity in the '90s as the signature drink of the Sex and the City foursome. It's usually made with Cointreau® or other orange-flavored liquor, vodka (sometimes flavored), simple syrup, cranberry juice and lime.
Bartender, lighten it up!
Ask for only 1 oz. of each serving of alcohol and skip the syrup. If you really want to trim calories but keep the orange flavor, Avanti suggests swapping the orange-flavored liquor for 1 Tbsp. of orange juice.

Learn how to lighten up your margarita when you read more.

4 Scary Sunburn Myths Revealed

Allure — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:20:39 PDT

We're excited to share this enlightening article from Allure:

The next time you're hanging out at the beach, you might want to watch what you say about sunscreen, or at least speak a little softer-you never know, a beauty editor might be lounging next to you, hanging on your every word. Case in point: I recently got back from vacation in Mexico, and after a week of relaxing at the beach and in the pool, I heard some of the most ridiculous, and potentially dangerous, statements made about wearing (and not wearing) sunscreen. Not one to get involved with strangers, I instead eavesdropped on vacationers' conversations, then turned to my boyfriend and lectured him on sun safety (not entirely necessary, as he was doused from head to toe in SPF 75 due to my incessant nagging). Upon my return, I immediately sent a list of all the things I overheard on my trip to Jeannette Graf, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Consider this an Allure version of Mythbusters-the skin-care edition. See the sunscreen myths - and get the truth - when you keep reading.