There is nothing fun like swimming in the pool, but an average swimming pool can be more dangerous than you think. Read this blog to find out about the hidden pool dangers!

#1. Drowning

According to the CDC, “Drowning is the leading cause of deaths among children.”

People believe that they’d notice if someone is flailing to screaming for help; however, in reality, drowning is silent. According to a study from Safe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen program, “Nearly half of parents say they think if a child was drowning nearby, they would hear him or her.” Instead, young kids show very little movement in their arms and legs and have a short time to breath to scream – before they go under. This all happens in a matter of minutes, so make sure to have someone in charge of keeping an eye on your kids when they go swimming.

#2. Electrical shock

We all know that water and electricity don’t mix at all.  What about pool lights, sound systems, pool equipment, and electrical wiring in your pool? Old pool lights are a common cause of electrical accidents for swimmers. You should take the following preventative measures to avoid electrical shock accidents:

• Maintain your pool lights regularly.
• Maintain your pumps and heaters properly.
• Pool equipment should be supplied by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). “If using cord-and-plug connected devices such as radios and fans around the pool area, use a portable GFCI or plug them into a GFCI-protected circuit.
• Keep all devices far away enough from the pool’s edge so that they are not accessible from the water.

#3. Fecal contamination

Yes, poop in the pool is disgusting and you must stay aware as you won’t be able to see the contamination. According to the Healthy Swimming Program, “A swimmer infected with Crypto can release 10 to 100 million germs into the water, and swallowing fecally contaminated water can make a person sick.” Make sure that you don’t swallow the pool water. Also, take your young children for a diaper check in every 30-60 minutes. Remember to change diapers in a diaper-changing area, away from the water.”

#4. Respiratory illnesses

Legionnaire’s disease is the most common recreational water illnesses (RWIs).  “People can get sick when they breathe in aerosolized water droplets or mists from hot tubs, that contain Legionella [bacteria]. Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ disease, severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness without pneumonia.” You can prevent respiratory illnesses by keeping a check on pH and chlorine levels. Check inspection scores of public and hotel pools before entering.

#5. Chlorine effects

Chlorine keeps your swimming pools clean, but when combined with sweat, pee, or dirt it can actually be a hazard. Urine and dirt mixed with chlorine produce chloramines, which can irritate the eyes, giving swimmers red eye.” It’s not the chlorine itself that makes your eyes red—it’s these disinfection by-products (DBPs). Chloramines, an example of disinfection by-products, not only irritate the eyes but can also irritate the respiratory tract and trigger asthma attacks. Make sure to shower before entering the water (as little as one minute is sufficient) to rinse off grime, and for goodness sake, don’t pee in the pool!

Want to know more about the hidden dangers of swimming pool, stay tuned to the Life Saver Pool Fence blog!