A green flag on the beach is an all-clear sign, indicating that it's safe to swim. Even when the flag is green, make sure to exercise caution in the ocean, listen to lifeguard warnings and keep a close eye on children.
The best way to determine if a body of water is safe and the risk of water borne illness is low is to sample the water and check for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. E. coli is commonly found in the intestines of humans and other mammals.
Don't swim or let others swim if sick with diarrhea. Shower for at least 1 minute before you get into the water to remove dirt or anything else on your body. Chlorine mixed with dirt, sweat, pee, and poop creates chemicals that make swimmers' eyes red and sting.
What are the top three rules for staying safe in the water?
Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
Make sure that you DON'T: Eat a lot before swimming – Having a large meal before entering the swimming pool will make you feel heavy in water while also seeing you tire quicker, making your swimming session last shorter than it should.
A pH level of 7 means that water is neutral; above 7 means the water is alkaline, while below 7 indicates acidity. Aim for a pH level of between 7 and 7.6. If the water pH is higher than 8, anyone who swims in the pool is at risk of skin rashes, while a pH of lower than 7 can sting swimmers' eyes.
What happens if you go in a pool that was just shocked?
Shocking is crucial for removing any pathogens in the water and making a pool safe for swimming, but it involves using some heavy-duty chemicals, including chlorine. Going in too soon after a pool's been shocked can potentially cause skin, eye, and even lung problems.
More dangerous than either chlorine or pool germs are peak sun hours. You're not shaded when submerged; instead, water can magnify rays, making swimming outdoors at midday a skin cancer risk. Take your dip before 10 A.M. or after 4 P.M. if you can, and block up.
For some women, the water pressure of a lake or pool can be enough to prevent menstrual flow. However, it's not enough to completely stop it, and while you are in the water, you are usually moving around and causing pressure on the abdominal muscles that may cause some leaking.
Shower immediately after you get out of the pool/sea
Any residual chlorine or salt that might be sitting on your skin needs to be removed, and a shower with a mild body cleanser helps do just that. This also helps restore the skin's pH levels back to normal and cancel the effects of the pool/sea water.
When you're sick, you should avoid swimming because you can easily tire yourself out. It can also impede your immune system's ability to heal from the sickness meaning your illness could worsen. Besides, swimming while you're sick puts other people in the water at risk of infection.
So if your body is feeling tired and you still feel motivated to swim, give it a go. But make sure you listen to your body at all times. You know your body better than anyone else, if you think it's time to take a rest, it probably is.
And because our blood is how we receive nutrients to our bodies, swimming helps improve circulation and cardiac efficiency, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition to lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke, swimming can improve the number, size and efficiency of mitochondria you have.
“Reach and throw – don't go!” : Never try to save anyone by jumping in yourself; then two people are at risk. Throw them something that floats, or grab a pole that reaches them.
