The Walmart pool

Walmart pool:  (noun)  The over-filled, tarpaulin blue baggie of water decorating the American back or side yard.

A mass marketer has taken the idea of the backyard pool away from the thought of it as an exclusive luxury and made it economically available to the every man.  But, should it be?

We have these unguarded balloons of water that sit in their semi-permanent state out for any child to hop into.  Because of the disposability of such item, I fear that people are far too lax about treating them as a toy, rather than the potential health danger that they can be.  Permanent pool structures generally have fences, but these are left in yards, like you would a playground ball.  There are several properties in our area of town that have these up, like summertime equivalent of the inflatable Christmas decorations.

"While many municipalities require some sort of safety device for in-ground pools—fencing with self-latching gates is typical—such is not the case with portable pools."  (Source)

K- was never left unattended with the shell wading pool up and filled.  I couldn't imagine feeling safe about having a soft bag of water sitting in my backyard.  At least my backyard is fenced in.  How is it that people feel safe to leave it out in a yard with no fence at all?  Sure, your children may know that they can't enter the pool without you, but what about other children who don't care?

Another pet peeve of mine about the disposable, portable pools is the fact that people are so quick to throw them out.  It isn't out of the question for people to buy one, use it for the summer, exercise a lack of care for the product, then toss it and start again the next year.  The landfills!  The landfills!  ARGH!

What are your thoughts about the easy set, portable pool movement?  Speak your mind, but speak it kindly, please.