Many people often share the same swimming pool. Susceptibility to infections or injuries vary a lot. Whether private or public, pools present a some safety and health issues, so swimmers should keep their eyes open to keep their families and themselves safe. This is especially essential considering the high risk of recreational water illnesses (RWIs) in pools, water parks, fountains and hot tubs. RWIs include ear, eye, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. With a few precautions, you could ward off all these infections and promote health in the swimming pool, as intended.
1. Test The Pool Water
It is understandable that you’d want to go straight into the water, but expert swimming pool repairers in Salt Lake City recommend that you should be sure what about what you are literally diving into. There may be chlorine insufficiency due to poor employee training or faulty equipment. Test results will give you different aspects of pool condition. Are you unsure if the technician treated the pool properly? It is easy to tell with a set of test strips, as experts will tell you.
2. Avoid Peeing In The Pool
This may sound obvious, but surveys continue to show that a huge number of swimmers relieve themselves in the pool water. This small act has more effect than you may imagine. Pool-chlorine and urine-ammonia react to form chloramine, a chemical that is weaker than chlorine in terms of killing bacteria. Essentially, peeing in the pool promotes contraction of water borne diseases.
3. Keep Off The Pool If Wounded
Have you heard an interesting myth that swimming with a wound is good because the pool water offers disinfection? Nothing can be more misleading than this. A wound subjected to pool water is simply an entry point for disease-causing germs. If you have a cut or injury, it’s better to skip swimming.
4. Take Care Of Feet, Eyes And Ears
Many people think that eyes turn red because of chlorine, while the main cause is chloramine – a chemical formed from the combination of biological products and chlorine. Carry a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from such irritants. You also want to carry ear drops to prevent ear infections. For your feet, have some rubber clogs or flip-flops to prevent athlete’s foot and other ailments.
5. Use Four Common Senses
Swimming pool professionals in Salt Lake City will tell you that your common sense can guide you before you jump into the pool. There are always warning signs. Taste is excluded, but smelling, touching, listening and looking will help. For instance, lack of any whirring sound in the background may suggest that the pump is not working. A sharp foul odor may mean presence of Chloramine.
6. Remove Bathing Suit
There is a reason why swimming-related rashes are often worse in areas covered by the swimsuit. A germ called Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes itching and rashes, which are only further aggravated the more you stay in that swimsuit. Get out of the suit immediately you are done with swimming to minimize exposure.
Conclusion
Swimming is associated with good health, but it could also act in reverse. That is if you do not observe personal health as you interact with pool water. Try out these simple tips and your swimming experience will never be the same again.
