How do you know if the water in your pool is clean?

Whether you swim 1,000 meters crawl, splash around with your kids, or drift on an inflatable mattress with lemonade in your hands, whatever you decide to do, you need to think about safety. After all, there’s a reason why the rules of conduct in the pool were invented. We’ll tell you why you should wear a swimming cap, how to avoid getting ear infections, and why you should wash your hair and body immediately after the pool.

How do you know if the water in your pool is clean?

Swimming in crowded waters increases your risk of catching germs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may be at risk of getting sick after visiting a pool :

• diarrhea;
• skin rash;
• ear inflammation;
• pneumonia or flu;
• irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract.

Germs can be contracted by swallowing or inhaling contaminated water.

Chemical reagents based on chlorine and bromine for water purification kill most microbes. However, there should not be too many reagents: some people may get skin irritation when in contact with chemicals or damage the respiratory tract when inhaling fumes. Children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at risk.

When visiting the pool, pay attention to the visual purity of the water. It should be transparent, without visible debris. Do not enter the water if it is cloudy milky or if there is a greenish coating on the walls of the pool. The smell of chlorine should not be too strong. If your eyes or skin sting when in contact with water, this means that the concentration of chemicals is too high.

Make sure that changing rooms, showers and the area around the pool are kept clean. Look at how swimming is organized: how many pools, whether there are dividers between lanes – all this is done for more comfortable and safe swimming. It is also worth paying attention to whether the situation on the water is monitored by a lifeguard who can provide first aid if necessary.

Is it possible to swim if there are wounds on the skin?

Avoid going to the pool to protect yourself and others from infections if you have:

• Diarrhea has started. It is better to wait two weeks after recovery.
• Symptoms of flu or cold have appeared.
• There is a fungus or other contagious skin disease.
• There is an open cut (especially after surgery or piercing ) – it can become inflamed and fester. If you still want to swim, it is better to use waterproof bandages to completely cover the wound;

Is it necessary to take a shower before going into the pool?

This is done to remove some of the natural dirt from the body. This way, the water in which many people swim will be cleaner. It is better to take a shower without a swimsuit. Firstly, this way you will wash yourself more thoroughly. And secondly, you will not have to walk from the shower to the pool wet. But if there are no closed showers, it is better to rinse the body somehow than not at all.

How to protect hair from chemicals?

There is some evidence that oxidized copper, which is added to pool water to prevent algae growth, turns blonde hair greenish. To avoid this, thoroughly wet your hair with non-chlorinated water before entering the pool. This will saturate your hair with clean water and will absorb less chlorinated water.

Do you need a swimming cap?

A cap is worn not so much for safety as for the cleanliness of the pool and the convenience of swimming. Even a rubber cap is unlikely to protect your hair from moisture. But it will prevent fallen hair from getting into the water and clogging the filters. In addition, the hair will not get in the way and get into your eyes. Professional athletes wear caps to swim faster.

Is it true that it is easy to catch a fungus in a swimming pool?

Nail fungus occurs when fungal infections (dermatophytes) damage the tissue under the nail or the nail bed. Dermatophytes can enter the nail through skin cuts, cracks in the nail.

Nail fungus is spread through direct contact with infected surfaces or skin. You can catch the disease by walking barefoot, for example, on the floor of a gym, locker room or pool. To protect yourself, always wear flip-flops, even in the shower. Comfortable flip-flops will also help you avoid slipping and falling on a wet floor in the shower or around the pool.

Is it true that private bathing can cause otitis?

The so-called “swimmer’s ear” is a special type of inflammation that is mostly encountered by professional athletes who spend a lot of time in the water. This is due to the fact that chlorine irritates the skin and mucous membranes and washes away the natural protection of the ear canal – wax. In particular, this is why you should not over -clean your ears with cotton swabs .

A swimming cap will help protect your ears, so that less water will flow into them. In some cases, you can also use special earplugs for swimming. Wipe them with sanitizer after each use and let them dry so that germs do not accumulate on the earplugs.

How much time can you spend in the water?

If you are new to swimming, it is best to start with 30 minutes, taking breaks for rest if necessary. If you want to increase the intensity of your workout, you can make it more challenging: increase the swimming distance, speed, and workout duration to an hour. Another good way to make swimming more challenging is to rest less between swimming intervals.

If you are not exercising, but just swimming for pleasure, you still shouldn’t do it for more than 30 minutes, so as not to get too cold. The risk of hypothermia remains even when you get out of the water, so you need to choose a warm place to dry off. 

Is it possible to catch a cold in your appendages if you walk around in a wet swimsuit for a long time?

It is not possible because pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by sexually transmitted bacteria that spread from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.

The main problem with wearing a wet swimsuit is the increased risk of fungal infections, especially yeast infections. According to the Mayo Clinic, 75% of women experience yeast infections at least twice in their lives. Those at particular risk are pregnant women, people who are obese, diabetic, or have weakened immune systems.

Adrianna Browning, MD, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M College of Medicine, advises always drying off in the sun or having an extra bathing suit to change into. This will reduce the risk of infection.

Hair looks dry and brittle after swimming. What to do?

Chlorine is used in swimming pools to kill bacteria and also has a bleaching effect. This can cause damage to your locks, especially light-colored ones. Chlorinated water eats away at the natural oils in your hair, which can lead to :

• to dryness;
• color change;
• split ends;
• itching and irritation of the scalp.

To reduce the negative impact of pool water on your hair, you need to :

• Wash your hair with shampoo immediately after bathing.
• Apply conditioner to moisturize hair and help restore balance to the scalp.
• Comb wet hair to prevent tangling. Use a wide-tooth comb.
• If your hair tends to have a greenish tint, it may be best to find a special shampoo to remove copper from hair.

How to get water out of your ear if it gets there?

To prevent inflammation, after swimming and showering, gently dry the outside of your ears with the edge of a towel. Tilt your head to the side and gently pull on your earlobes to open the ear canals and drain all the water. You can use a hair dryer on the lowest setting to gently blow on each ear. It’s best to keep the hair dryer at a distance, not too close to your head, to avoid burning your skin.

How to take care of your skin after swimming?

Chemicals used to disinfect pool water (such as chlorine) can irritate and dry out your skin. Chlorinated water can cause irritating skin symptoms such as:

• dryness and itching;
• redness;
• hives or rash;
• exacerbation of eczema or psoriasis;
• allergic dermatitis.

The longer chlorine sits on your skin, the more irritated it will be, so shower immediately after swimming. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a gentle body wash and avoiding scrubs, which can irritate your skin.

For people with sensitive skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends :

• moisturize your skin before going to the pool;
• take a warm shower after bathing;
• blot rather than rub your body with a towel;
• Apply moisturizer to damp skin after showering.

Why do swimmers rinse their mouths after training?

Chlorine and other chemicals in the pool can cause yellow and brown stains on your teeth by attacking the enamel. This happens because the pH of chlorinated pools is higher than that of human saliva, which breaks down the proteins that protect teeth from tartar.

To protect your teeth, rinse your mouth with fresh water or fluoridated mouthwash after swimming to restore the pH level. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after swimming to avoid further damaging the enamel.