Tyler Rasmussen
Regional director of operations and GM, Arizona
National Pool Partners
Scottsdale, Arizona

One thing I would recommend going into summer is to have an all-hands-on-deck summer meeting with your team to discuss several topics, including hydration, pace, snakes, spiders and dogs.

Hydration

It is not only important to hydrate during the day but to hydrate in the evening for the next day. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. If you can afford it, I recommend providing reusable water bottles to the team and providing Liquid I.V. daily.

Pace

It is important to maintain a certain pace in the heat. You don’t want to overexert yourself out there. Keep a consistent and steady pace, and your body will thank you.

Snakes and spiders

When it warms up, the critters come out of hibernation. Watch your feet when rounding a corner into a backyard as snakes like to crawl along the walls of the house and hide in the bushes near walkways. Be careful when opening skimmer lids as black widows and other spiders like to hide in the lid.

Dogs

Families will be home for summer vacation, and this changes the pattern of the dogs. Some dogs that are usually inside may be outside and vice versa. If a family is home, the dog will more than likely become protective, so a dog that normally lets you pet it may become defensive and bite because it feels you are threatening its family. Get in the habit of knocking on doors and/or shaking the gate to make sure both you and the dog are comfortable with the situation.