There’s nothing better than jumping in a pool on a hot day. And when your Florida apartment complex has a pool, you can just throw on a bathing suit, grab a towel, and go for a dip whenever you want. Fun amenities like pools are one of the best parts of apartment living, but they become significantly less fun when people don’t treat them with respect.
At Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP, we understand the value of resident comfort, so we’ve compiled a list of safety and etiquette tips to follow when hanging out in or around your apartment’s pool. Keep reading, and you’ll be a pool apartment pro in no time.
As you prepare to visit the pool, remember that swimming shouldn’t replace showering in your day’s routine. When you shower before swimming, you rinse off grease, oil, and other grime on your skin that can seep into the pool and get fellow swimmers sick. Similarly, you should not swim if you currently have diarrhea or have recently been sick.
Racing to jump in the deep end may sound fun at first, but you’ll regret it if you slip on the wet pool deck and hurt yourself. Even worse, you could crash into another swimmer and wind up hurting someone else. While spending time by the pool, walk carefully and without rushing.
Pools are a great perk of apartment living as long as you get used to the idea of sharing space with other people. Other residents want to enjoy the pool as well, so you need to pick up after yourself when you leave. This includes packing up items like towels and sunscreen, clearing away litter, and picking up crumbs. When you respect the space you share, you encourage your neighbors to respect the area, too.
Swimming at the crack of dawn or in the dead of night can be fun, but it’s not polite when you’re surrounded by sleeping neighbors. Pool hours are there to maintain order in your apartment complex, keeping the environment peaceful during hours when people are trying to sleep. Stick to the closing and opening times your complex provides, so you don’t disturb your neighbors while they’re trying to rest.
While swimming, splashing, and ducking beneath the surface of your apartment’s pool, you should avoid inhaling mouthfuls of chlorinated water. Chlorine will make you ill if you swallow enough of it, and drinking pool water can also expose you to a variety of other germs. There’s no need to panic if a small amount of water gets into your mouth, but you should call a poison hotline if you begin experiencing illness symptoms after swallowing chlorinated water.
Pools are an excellent way for kids to have fun and get exercise, but that doesn’t mean a trip to the pool is a free-for-all. When you allow your kids to swim in the community pool, you shouldn’t let them wander there by themselves. Children below the minimum unsupervised swimming age should always be monitored by a parent or caregiver, so their trusted adult can ensure they behave safely and politely during trips to the pool.
Of all the apartment pool etiquette tips we’re sharing, this one might be the most important of all. Many pools are not deep enough for swimmers to dive safely, and disobeying this regulation can result in severe neck, head, and spine injuries. Check your complex’s rules on diving, and do not attempt to dive if the pool does not meet safety standards that make diving possible.
When you’re playing Marco Polo or just splashing aimlessly in the water, it can be easy to get caught up in the fun and forget your surroundings. This is how you end up splashing unsuspecting swimmers or accidentally kicking your neighbors, so you should always make it a goal to stay aware of the people around you.
We’ve gone over a few golden rules for enjoying your Florida apartment’s pool, but your best source of guidance is the list of apartment pool rules specifically outlined for your complex. Check the pool area for a sign stating the rules, so you can be sure you aren’t breaking any of them.
If you’re looking for an apartment with a pool to beat the heat, reach out to Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP, for stellar assistance. We'll help you find an apartment in Gainesville, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Lakeland, Alachua, or Winter Park with a community pool, so you can feel like you’re on an island resort all year round. Contact us today for more information about luxury apartments in Gainesville and other Florida cities.