By The Editors, Prevention
1. The attendant seems distracted
Pools need a lot of attention, and the
manager on duty should be vigilant. Monitoring the chemicals is
especially crucial to healthy waters. A pool's chemical levels should be
tested at least twice a day. A texting addict or a flirty teenager are
just two species of distracted pool attendants who can forget to test
and fail to make adjustments to keep swimmers safe. If you're not sure
the pool's chlorine level is being carefully monitored, it may be a
virtual petri dish of bad bugs like norovirus, which can cause innocent swimmers bouts of vomiting and cramps
Lakes can be beautiful, peaceful spots to
cool off in, but nature harbors dangers, too. Blue-green algae blooms
occur often in lakes, and some produce toxic cyanobacteria. The slimy
and often smelly film that floats on the lake's surface is a distinct
green color, so look carefully for it before diving in. Since you might
not have the whole lake in your sight, a good solid sniff is another
measure of protection. If there's an off-smell, there may be algae you
can't see. And don't let your dog take the plunge either: Pets have died after exposure.
Sure, kids are cute, but pre-potty-trained
babies don't make good swimming pals. Even trace amounts of fecal matter
can harbor the parasite Giardia lamblia. Diaper leakage—which is hard
to prevent, especially in the water—can easily contaminate an entire
pool. Accidentally ingest some of the germs, and you're looking at a
miserable bout of diarrhea and vomiting you could have avoided by
sticking to the adult swim area
Usually debris washes up onto the beach, so
if you see a line of seaweed, foam, or other debris pulled in the
opposite direction—out into the wide ocean—there could be a riptide
offshore. Even a strong swimmer is no match for those dangerous runaway
currents.
[post_ads]Other telltale signs of a riptide include patches of water
that appear a different shade of blue or a visible channel of choppy
surf. Just remember that an absence of these signs does not guarantee a
riptide-free dip. You should always be careful and swim where there are
lifeguards on duty.
The expression "the more the merrier" may
apply to many things, but not a public pool. It's a matter of
mathematics: Each new body multiplies the germs, viruses, and bacteria
getting into the water. More and more swimmers also divide the
lifeguard's attention, which equals less safety for all. Use common
sense: If the pool seems way too crowded, it probably is. Cool off with
some ice cream instead
