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Pool Hygiene
There are health issues to consider when you are swimming with children to make the whole experience more pleasant and safe for them, and for other pool users. Planning head is vital to prevent unhappy accidents, discomfort and tears – some of which could be yours!
- Showering:Before entering the pool showering helps to remove, cosmetics, non-waterproof sunscreens and perspiration. All these can contribute to cloudy water and increased health risks for pool users. Older children might benefit from a visit to the loo and a good nose-blow!
- Showering after swimming helps to remove any potential skin irritants and minimize the drying effects of salt or chlorinated water. Our SOS range of organic products is ideal for revitalizing skin after swimming.
- Vaccinations: The Amateur Swimming Association (UK) recommends that babies shouldn’t be taken into a public swimming pool until four weeks after their second course of inoculations. This actually brings them up to the time when they will be having their third round of vaccine. For added security it is suggested that they don’t enter the pool until a further week after this, as the Polio injection is a live vaccine, and there is a small risk of adults being infected with the virus if your child has an accident in the pool.
- Babies and Bottoms: If your child is still wearing conventional nappies they will need to wear a swim nappy in the pool. The germs in human waste are potentially very harmful and you don’t want to be responsible for the closure of the pool for ‘de-contamination’! If the contaminated water is swallowed it causes abdominal pain, sickness and diarrhoea. For the very young and elderly this is particularly dangerous. As a precaution many health clubs and public leisure centres now require swim nappies to be worn by children
- Ears & Ear tubes: Not all doctors agree on the best way to safeguard children who have problems with repeated ear infections, or cases of ‘Swimmers Ear’. Follow the advice of your child’s doctor on what precautions to take when swimming or bathing. A selection of easy to use earplugs and neoprene head bands are available should your child need ear protection in the water.
For more information on otitis externa, or Swimmer's Ear visit the BBC health pages on their website here.
