Summer is in full swing, and nothing beats the heat during this time of year better than taking dip in the pool. While using a swimming pool can be refreshing and fun – it could also be a source of potentially harmful diseases and unsafe conditions. By following this simple guide, you can make sure you’re swimming healthy in your local pool this summer.

Rule number 1: Always check the pool before you jump in!

It may seem excessive to inspect and test your local pool, however, it will actually provide you with helpful feedback on how well the pool maintained, and if it is safe to use.

You should always make sure the drain to the pool is visible at the deeper end of the pool, and it should also have a secure cover. Pool drainage is important to keep the water clean and safe, but it essential to make sure children are not playing with the drains. Fingers, hair, and bathing suits can become stuck and a fun summer activity can turn dangerous.

It is also important to make sure any pool you enter has been properly treated and tested for any potentially toxic bacteria. Common bacteria found in swimming pools and spas are E.coli, Giardia, Hepitatis A, and Cryptospodium, the latter three being more resistant to chlorine than E.coli.

Stomach illnesses, swimmer’s ear, rashes, respiratory infections and urinary tract infections are all common ailments that could be contracted from bacteria ridden swimming pools. It is vital that a swimming pool be regularly treated with the right amount of chlorine and/or bromine to maintain a healthy pool environment. Just for reference:

A healthy swimming pool should have…

If you find it difficult to trust a particular pool, you can always carry your own water test strips to test the pool’s pH, chlorine, bromine, microbes, etc.

Rule number 2: Keep dirt, garbage, and bodily fluids away from water.

Since microbes can easily spread through water, especially in public facilities, it is important to limit the possible bacteria that you bring into the water to protect you and others using the pool.

Even if a pool is chlorinated, bacteria spread through bodily fluids and bacteria can still be harmful to swimmers. In fact, chlorine combines with bodily secretions (such as urine, feces, sweat, dirt, skin cells, make-up, deodorant, etc.) to create chloramines, which can be irritating to the human body. A way to tell if a pool may be inhabited by chloramines is if it smells too chlorinated, which is actually not a good sign.

It is important that if you are currently experiencing diarrhea, or have in the last two weeks, that you stay out of the pool as viruses can easily spread to other swimmers. A survey states that 24% of people say they would go to a swimming pool within one hour of having diarrhea, as well that 40 percent of people have peed in the pool as an adult! So, exercise caution and enter at your own risk.

As well, make sure you don’t have any open wounds or fresh piercings when entering a pool. This makes it a lot easier for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and potentially make you ill.

Rule number 3: Shower before getting into the water

To eliminate as much potential pollutants to the water as possible, it is important to shower off before entering any pool. As mentioned, a pool’s water quality can be affected by personal care products such as cosmetics and deodorant. This might seem unnecessary, however, our unwashed bodies can bring billions of bacteria microbes into a pool, in addition to dirt and grime.

The Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention recommends rinsing off for at least a minute before entering the pool to ensure your body is adequately clean of harmful bacteria or bodily secretions.

So be considerate of other and don’t use the pool as your bathtub.

Rule number 4: Take your kids to the washroom and change their swim diapers often

It is essential that children in diapers switch to swim diapers when getting into the pool. This helps keep any fecal matter or urine out of the pool more so than regular diapers.

As well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that small children using swim diapers take bathroom breaks every hour and have their diapers checked changed to ensure the water maintains clean.

In addition, when using the washroom, it is important to make sure you are wiping properly and washing hands before getting into the pool, again to limit the number of bodily bacteria spread into the water.

Rule number 5: Keep your mouth closed and don’t swallow water

Even in a well-maintained pool with a proper filtration system, it is possible to still have lingering microbes in the water, especially in a busy public pool. It is reported that adults accidently ingest 1 tablespoon of pool water while swimming, and children ingest about two. Because of this, it is important to make sure you keep your mouth and nose closed when enjoying the pool, and especially when going underwater.

Harmful bacteria can enter the digestion system if pool water is accidently swallowed in large amounts. If the above precautions, such as a properly maintained, clean and healthy pool are exercised, this will minimize the risk of contracting harmful viruses such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, Norovirus and E-coli. Swimmers with these diseases can unknowingly spread bacteria into the pool, leaving other pool patrons at risk.

In the end, it is important to follow these basic steps to ensure that everyone can enjoy their swimming experience and stay healthy and safe. Use your instincts and look for anything that doesn’t seem normal. Remember: trust your gut and if you think you shouldn’t be swimming in that pool, then you’re probably right!