Pool Water: Why Swimmer Hygiene is Important

A majority of swimmers are aware of the job pool professionals do, in maintaining pool water hygiene standards. Pool hygiene is not only bent for pool cleaners but also the swimmers. Some swimmers are ignorant of the roles they ought to play in the maintenance of pool hygiene levels for a safe and healthy experience.

Good swimmer hygiene practices enable the swimmer to maintain high standard quality pool water. This reduces the spread of contaminated water-related illnesses. Some practices include having a bath before entering the pool, avoiding excreting in pools whether by urinating or defecating. Also, do not take a swim if you are experiencing diarrhea.

The Water Quality & Health Council first investigated the subject of swimmer hygiene in the year 2009. The survey featured issues such as pooping and peeing in the swimming pool. The WQHC released its study findings in 2011, after a public lobby.

The research revealed that 47% of Americans agree to unhygienic practices in public pools. This featured 17% who admitted to urinating in the pool, and 35% concur that they do not take a shower before getting into the pools.

In 2012, WQHC conducted similar research and discovered that 68%of the United States citizens, still don’t shower before a swim while 44% find a pre-swim bath as unneeded.

Effects of poor swimmer’s hygiene 

The pool water chemistry is usually altered by components such as body oils, urine, sweat, fecal substances and cosmetics. Sweat and urine, which are nitrogen compounds, react with the chlorine ions in the water forming irritable chloramines. The effects of chloramines like itchy skin, red, irritated eyes are at times confused for high levels of chlorine by swimmers.

Poor hygiene practices are a major contributory factor in high chloramines levels. Swimmers who add to this water impurities exhaust-free chlorine levels. They end up risking their well-being and exposure to waterborne sicknesses.

A swimmer often gets an ear infection in the canal. This develops when the micro-organisms in contaminated pool water penetrate in the ear canal. The micro-organisms create an enabling environment favorable for bacterial growth and infecting the skin. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports 2011, states that swimmer’s ear infections recorded 2.4 million hospital visits and about $500 million yearly healthcare expenses between 2003-2007.

There is a common myth that pool water contains a dye that turns to red, circulating those that pee in the water. However, the swimmer’s red eyes are the only sure way to determine contaminated water.

The use of an EPA- registered sanitizer & regulating chlorine levels between 1 to 4 ppm, gets rid of the majority of popular water bacteria even those that cause swimmer’s ears and red eyes.

Promoting Good Swimmer Hygiene Practices

Take a pre and post-shower: 

Health department codes encourage swimmer hygiene by advising on a pre-swim shower. To achieve these facilities require to have a clean, user-friendly bathroom. Dirty facilities can discourage swimmers from using their facilities, therefore breaking this important hygiene rule. Pre-showers removes any contaminants from your body, such as body lotions and sweat, to avoid transferring them to water. A 

study in Netherlands 2012, discovered that a 1-minute bath removes the most of body’s impurity. A post-shower eliminates any impurities from the pool water from your body.

Regular restroom breaks:

Frequent bathroom breaks for children and adults can help reduce urinating and defecating in the pool water. Lack of these facilities around the backyard pool area or if they are poorly maintained can be a leading factor as to why swimmers opt to excrete in the pools.

Avoid consumption of pool water:

Sometimes water can get into the swimmer’s mouth unintentionally, especially for young kids. When this happens, you shouldn’t consume the water as it contains harmful chemicals not meant for human use. Consuming pool water can lead to stomach complications as well as vomiting and diarrhea.

Do not swim when unwell:

Swimmers who are unwell should keep off the pool area until they feel better. Such can include those who are vomiting or diarrhea to avoid contaminating the pool water before they could get to the restroom. Moreover, those with an open wound, especially from a surgical operation, ought to avoid swimming until the wound is comply healed and covered. This is due to the pressure of pool water which can worsen the open wound, causing complications. Furthermore, bacteria in the pools can come into contact with the open wound leading to a serious condition.

Educating the public:

WOHC advises of incorporation of swimmer hygiene education, especially in health classes or swimming lessons. Pool staffs can use educational posters available from CDC, to create awareness to the swimmers.

Good swimming hygiene practices are for the benefit of all to enjoy the amazing summer experience by the pools.