Go swimming in the pool
Healthy and Safe Swimming Year-Round | Healthy Swimming | Healthy Water
We typically think about healthy and safe swimming during the summer months, but a lot of people also swim in the fall, winter, and spring. Many hot tubs and indoor pools are open all year. Learn how to protect yourself and those you care about from illness and injury in and around the water.
Germs can spread through water we swim, play, or relax in and cause illness. Swimmers are at risk for these illnesses if they swallow, have contact with, or breathe in mists or aerosols from water contaminated with germs. Swimmers can also get sick after having contact with chemicals that are in the water or that evaporate from the water and turn into gas in the air.
Stay Healthy in Hot Tubs
Whenever you use a hot tub at someone’s home or that is open to the public, keep the following HOT steps in mind to help keep yourself and others healthy and safe: Heed the rules, Observe your surroundings, and Talk to the operator!
Heed rules for healthy and safe use:
- Don’t swallow the water.
- Stay out of the water if sick with diarrhea.
- Don’t let children less than 5 years old use hot tubs.
- Don’t drink alcohol before or during hot tub use.
- Shower before you get in the water.
- If you are pregnant, talk to a healthcare provider before using a hot tub.
- Keep the number of people in a public hot tub (such as at a hotel or gym) below or at maximum capacity.
Follow CDC’s steps for healthy swimming while swimming, playing, or relaxing in the water.
Observe the hot tub and its surroundings:
- Water temperature should not be higher than 104°F (40°C).
- Check the water for proper disinfectant levels (chlorine or bromine) and pH, using test strips.
- Tiles should not be sticky or slippery.
- A properly chlorinated hot tub has little odor. A strong chemical smell indicates a problem.
Talk to hot tub operators and owners:
- Are chlorine or bromine levels and pH checked at least twice a day?
- Are these levels and pH checked when the hot tub is most heavily used?
- What are the latest inspection results for the hot tub?
- Are staff who are trained in hot tub operation available during the weekends when the hot tub is most heavily used?
- Share the above tips with operators and owners to help prevent illnesses.
Talk to hot tub operators and owners:
- Are chlorine or bromine levels and pH checked at least twice a day?
- Are these levels and pH checked when the hot tub is most heavily used?
- What are the latest inspection results for the hot tub?
- Are staff who are trained in hot tub operation available during the weekends when the hot tub is most heavily used?
- Share the above tips with operators and owners to help prevent illnesses.
Stay Healthy in Indoor Pools
Pools and other places where we swim in chlorinated water shouldn’t have a strong chemical smell. If you notice a strong chemical smell at the pool, you are probably smelling chloramines.
Chloramines form in the water when chlorine combines with pee, poop, sweat, dirt, and skin cells that wash off swimmers’ bodies. After forming in the water, chloramines enter the air and give off a strong chemical smell. Although chloramines can be present at outdoor pools, they are more likely to bother swimmers at indoor pools because there is less ventilation.
Swimmers can get red eyes or nose and throat irritation from chloramines. Help protect yourself and those you care about by taking steps to stop chloramines from forming in the first place. Talk to the pool operator if you notice a strong chemical smell.
Stay Safe in the Water: Take Steps to Prevent Drowning
Drowning kills more children aged 1–4 years than anything else except birth defects. You can take action to prevent drowning:
- Make sure everyone has basic swim skills, such as floating and treading water.
- Have a four-sided fence that goes all the way around the pool and separates it from the house, with self-closing and self-latching gates. Also, remove all toys from the pool area that might attract children to the pool when not in use.
- Supervise swimmers closely at all times.
- Use life jackets in and around pools for children and weaker swimmers.
- Know how to recognize and respond to a swimmer in distress and how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Swimming safety for children
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By
Cynthia Weiss
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: A friend and I were talking about the risks of swimming and water safety for young children. I have a toddler and a 4-year-old, and I'm curious about when it's safe to swim, the risk of getting sick, and the need for goggles and earplugs.
ANSWER: For many people, the hot summer days are often spent swimming at the pool. But before you help your child suit up, it's important to consider practical tips to keep your child safe. Below are some common questions about children and water safety.
What's the best age to begin swimming lessons?
Many kids learn to ride a bike and to swim on their own at the same age — often the summer before kindergarten. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons for most children 4 and older.
If you enroll a child younger than age 4 in a swimming program, pick one that requires parental involvement, has qualified teachers and a fun atmosphere, and involves a limited number of underwater submersions. This will limit the amount of water your child might swallow.
Can children swim when they're sick?
It's fine for children who have colds or other minor illnesses to swim so long as they feel well enough to do so. If your child has diarrhea, is vomiting, has a fever, or is diagnosed with COVID-19 or another infectious illness, he or she should stay out of the water.
Can babies or toddlers wear diapers in the water?
Swim diapers and swim pants are water-repellent and fit snugly around a child's thighs and waist, but they're not waterproof. If your child has a bowel movement in the water, fecal material might escape the diaper.
A dirty diaper might contain diarrhea-causing germs, including the parasite cryptosporidium, which can contaminate pool water or other swimming areas.
In otherwise healthy people, a cryptosporidium infection causes diarrhea. The consequences can be more severe for people who have weak immune systems.
Urine in the water is less risky than feces, but it's difficult to separate the two when children wear diapers. If you allow your child to swim in a diaper, take breaks to change the diaper in the bathroom or use the toilet. Don't allow swimming if your child has diarrhea.
Is it risky for children to swallow pool water?
Your child is bound to gulp pool water at one time or another, especially when first learning to swim. A little swallowed pool water isn't typically a cause for concern, but too much pool water can lead to illness. Encourage your child to spit out any water that gets in his or her mouth.
Can children who have casts go swimming?
It depends on the type of cast. If your child has a plaster cast over cloth wrapping, he or she must stay out of the water. Wrapping a plaster cast with plastic bags generally isn't effective.
However, if your child has a fiberglass cast that's lined with a water-repellent liner, it's usually OK to swim — as long as you have the health care provider's OK. After swimming, it's important to thoroughly rinse the inside of the cast with clean water.
Can children swim if they have ear tubes?
If your child has ear tubes, it's best to ask his or her health care provider about ear protection during swimming. Some health care providers recommend that children who have ear tubes wear earplugs while swimming to prevent bacteria from entering the middle ear. However, routine use of earplugs might only be needed when children dive or swim in untreated water, such as lakes and rivers.
What's the best way to prevent swimmer's ear?
Swimmer's ear — also known as otitis externa — is an infection of the outer ear canal that occurs if water remains in the ear after swimming.
To prevent swimmer's ear:
- Keep ears dry.
Encourage your child to wear earplugs while swimming. After swimming, dry your child's ears by wiping the outer ears gently with a soft towel or use a hair dryer on the lowest setting, holding it at least a foot away from the ear. - Use a preventive treatment.
As long as your child doesn't have punctured eardrums, using over-the-counter preventive solutions or making homemade eardrops before and after swimming can reduce risk for swimmer's ear. - Avoid putting foreign objects in your child's ear.
Cotton swabs can pack material deeper into the ear canal, irritate the thin skin inside the ear or break the skin.
How do I prevent red eyes? Are goggles a must?
Exposure to chlorine might leave your child with red eyes. To prevent red or puffy eyes, encourage your child to wear goggles while swimming and avoid opening his or her eyes underwater. To ease discomfort and reduce redness after swimming, rinse your child's eyes with a sterile eyewash or an artificial tears solution.
Is it OK to swim after eating?
While it may not be the most comfortable thing to go for a swim with a full belly, this is not a dangerous activity.
With young children, the biggest concern with swimming and safety is staying alert. Make sure you are always nearby and be prepared to act in case of an emergency. — Compiled by Mayo Clinic staff
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Things to consider before going for a swim in the pool
In winter, many people feel the need for moderate physical activity.
And swimming is considered the most organic type of load on the body. So, if you don’t have plans for a trip to the warm sea coast, you can safely go to the pool. However, swimming in the pool begins with a very tiring, but mandatory preparatory stage. In order for you to be freely allowed to swim in the pool, you must first obtain a certificate from a general practitioner. This certificate must confirm that you are absolutely healthy, and there are no restrictions on visiting a water institution. Without such a certificate, people will not be allowed to swim in any pool that values its reputation. Moreover, in those pools where such a certificate is not needed, it is better not to go. After all, you cannot be sure exactly who and in the presence of what sores swam there in front of you. For a certificate for visiting the pool, you can contact the clinic at your place of residence, any medical center, or you can get it in the medical office at the pool itself. The doctor should examine you and find out if you are a carrier of fungal and infectious diseases.
With inflammatory processes occurring in the body, the swimming pool is also not allowed. You need to check with a doctor not only so as not to harm the health of other visitors, but also to remain unharmed yourself. There are many people who are completely contraindicated in interaction with water in which bleach is diluted. And in the pool, by the way, there will be just such water. Chlorine is a chemical element that is toxic. And people prone to allergies are not recommended to swim in such water. In the pool, bleach is used to disinfect the water. Therefore, you should definitely visit a doctor. The certificate issued by him will be valid for six months. The second thing you need to think about before going to the pool is swimwear. When choosing a bathing suit, you should be guided by a fairly simple criterion. It comes down to how tightly the swimsuit will fit your body. The tighter it is to the body, the more comfortable it will be for you to swim. If we are talking about a men's bathing suit, then wide swimming trunks, reminiscent of "family shorts", are best saved for a trip to the sea.
And the girls in the pool have no reason to attract attention with their bows or ruffles on their swimsuit. The smaller the number of all these decorative elements, the better. Excess material on a swimsuit will only increase water resistance. As a result, it will be much harder for you to swim. It is better for men to come to the pool in boxer shorts. And for women, one-piece swimsuits are best suited. A swimming cap on your head in all pools will be a mandatory attribute. When choosing it, make sure that you are as comfortable as possible in it. Such a hat should not squeeze your head. Otherwise, you will only wait for the end of the procedure while swimming. Today, pool caps are presented in many options. There are those that are better to wear with a leisurely and measured style of swimming, while others are more suitable for athletes who swim quite quickly. In the pool, be sure to take rubber flip flops or slippers. After all, the floor in the pool consists of tiles. Therefore, barefoot, you can simply slip.
In addition, flip flops will protect you from accidentally picking up any fungus. Those who are going to train very intensively in the pool should take, among other things, swimming goggles. The sporty style of swimming involves the fact that the head is often submerged in water.
And if you have special glasses on your eyes, then it will be much easier to navigate under water and on its surface. Goggles in the form of a mask are optimally suited for the pool. You can easily find them in any sporting goods store. But they should not be confused with an underwater mask. The latter is much more voluminous and heavy. And the glasses-mask are very light and even elegant. Another useful accessory to bring to the pool is a nose clip. Thanks to him, you can avoid such a nuisance that chlorinated water gets into your nose. And in the lungs it will be easier for you to keep the air already taken in. As a rule, a nose clip is used for synchronized swimming or scuba diving. However, for ordinary swimmers, the clip can be very useful.
For example, it is recommended to wear it if you plan to tumble in the water when pushing off the sides. The clamp is also needed when flipping onto the stomach from the back and back. If you just want to relax in the water, then you can do without a clamp. Oddly enough, but you also need to go to the pool with a cosmetic bag. It should contain such means by which it is possible to eliminate the negative effects of bleach on the skin and hair. After the pool, be sure to visit the shower.
Stand under it not for a minute, but for three to five. It is recommended to visit the shower and before the swim in the pool. This will wash away sweat and excess dust from your body. You can put a bottle of liquid soap in a cosmetic bag. Choose a soap that is suitable for very sensitive skin. Keep in mind that human skin perceives contact with bleach as very aggressive. Therefore, your skin after the pool will need very gentle care. To restore hair, it will not be superfluous to make a nourishing mask.
But apply it only when the hair is washed with shampoo. After a shower, a nourishing and protective cream can be applied to the body. The cream should have a fairly dense and oily texture. Before applying the cream on the face, it should be thoroughly wiped with a cotton pad. Many people think that these events are too many for an ordinary visit to the pool. But if you decide to use waterproof cosmetics while visiting the pool, this can negatively affect the condition of your skin. Therefore, it is better not to scoff at skin cells. It's just great if the pool you plan to visit has a sauna. After all, the water in the pool itself is quite cool. And after it, warming up in the sauna will not be superfluous.
And the skin can be cleaned more reliably this way. Sauna will be useful for those people who want to lose weight. But it can also be done in the pool. Swimming lessons can be considered effective if the loads are dosed, and the exercises are technical. Overload can be expressed in the fact that you begin to feel terribly tired when you leave the pool.
To avoid this, you need to start with thirty minutes of training. And only after three weeks this time can be increased by fifteen minutes. Before any workout in the pool, it is recommended to do a warm-up. It can consist of ordinary squats, stretching under water or a leisurely breaststroke swim. Having carried out an active swim, then you need to lower the speed gradually. As a universal exercise for weight loss, you can use running under water. By following the above tips, you will make your stay in the pool as comfortable as possible.
Is it possible to swim in the pool during menstruation
Of course, for those who like to swim to keep fit or for their own pleasure, skipping a few classes is not scary. And if the girl is a professional swimmer? Indeed, in this case, it is impossible to refuse training, and even more so from sports competitions.
Is it possible to swim in the pool during menstruation? Of course yes! Swimming during menstruation relaxes the muscles and relieves spasms, while physical activity releases endorphins that reduce pain.
It's quite safe, you just have to follow certain rules.
Rule one . To get started, consult a gynecologist: he will determine what physical activity will be optimal for you during this period.
Rule two . In the early days of menstruation, when the bleeding is especially profuse and the cervix is open, it is better to refrain from visiting the pool. The temperature difference increases the discharge, during the period of menstruation, the infection is easier to penetrate into the body, and chlorinated water can irritate the mucous membranes. If you have a membership for a certain number of classes, don't worry - most pools accept doctor's certificates confirming a good reason for skipping.
Rule three. If you can't skip a workout, you can use special hygiene products that will allow you to be in the water during menstruation. Pads will be useless - they get wet too quickly and, moreover, are very noticeable under the swimsuit.
Use low absorbency tampons: when bathing, the tampon swells and may cause discomfort. Therefore, take a few pieces with you and try to change them at least once every 15-20 minutes to ensure maximum protection against leaks.
Fourth rule. Be sure to remove the tampon from the vagina immediately after training, so that the product soaked in water with chlorine does not provoke irritation. Take spare hygiene products with you, including a pad, in order to use them after swimming.
Rule five. If you are worried that blood will be visible on your swimsuit, have it in a dark color - black, blue or purple. In order not to worry about whether the thread from the tampon is visible, you can wear a bathing suit with a bottom in the form of shorts.
Rule six. Take a contrast shower before and after swimming: this activates blood circulation, which contributes to the proper functioning of organs and muscles.
Rule seven.
