Swimming in Public Pools Can Be a Risk to Your Health
If you’re like me, you probably are enjoying the pool as much as you can this summer. With temperatures rising, taking a dip is a great way to cool down, but are you getting all the bacteria off your skin and hair to make sure your body can relax? With over 89 million people swimming in public pools each summer, it shouldn’t be a surprise that most pools are filled with germs. So what steps can you take to make sure you enjoy your swimming experience without bringing back more than a souvenir?
What’s in Your Water
Here are a few facts about pool water that you might be interested in. Pool water holds everything from sweat, dirt, oil, grime, to bodily fluids. Although most of these things cannot get you sick by simply swimming in it, drinking it is a different story. Most people rely on the chlorine in the water, which does kill germs, but it cannot kill everything in the water. Does your pool smell like chlorine? This might indicate correct chlorine levels, which is needed to kill anything bad in the water. Your body also absorbs chlorine, which can lower levels of chlorine based on the number of bodies in the pool.
Preventative Swimming Actions
So what can we do in order to protect ourselves from the dangers in the pool? There are a few steps that you can take in order to protect yourself from germs in the pool. One thing you can do is shower before you head out to clean yourself from any germs presently on you. No matter how bad you have to go, never pee in the water. If you bring children with you, check frequently on their bathroom status to prevent accidents in the pool. Whatever you do don’t drink the water, this can get you really sick and should be avoided at all times. If you plan on diving under the water, take out contacts and where googles to prevent potential eye infections. Most importantly always shower after swimming to clean off bacteria that might have gotten stuck.
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