Five reasons you should think twice before swimming

Summertime in Bermuda is often spent on a boat, at the beach or lounging by a pool.

But did you know that there are reasons to stay out of the water? Did you know it could be hazardous?

Here are a few reasons, largely from www.chacha.com, on why you should do your research before cooling down, in Bermuda or abroad.

1) Baby Bacteria — Yes, babies do wear special pampers to swim in, but they are still full of bacteria. If you are in a pool and the diaper leaks and you ingest it, it can make you very sick. And don’t say you don’t drink pool water. If someone splashes really big, a few drops of water could get into your mouth. Even the smallest amount of bacteria could get into the pool and will all the moving, it spreads quickly. Baby poop can carry Giardi Lamblia bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, upset stomach and vomiting.

2) Crowded Pools — If this isn’t enough to convince you not to get into a pool, I don’t know what is. A crowded pool is not somewhere you want to be. More people equal more germs. The more people you have in a small area means the more dirt, germs and bacteria you are exposing yourself to. Not to mention if you get that water in your eye or your nose, lips or even your mouth. It’s just a gross situation.

3) Low Visibility — ChaCha also says if you can’t see the bottom of a pool, don’t get in. It’s that simple. If you head to a pool and instead of finding sparkling, clear water, you see cloudy, murky water, don’t get in. Murky water means dirty water. If the water is cloudy, the pool hasn’t been treated with chlorine to keep bacteria and algae from growing. Murky water also means you can’t see the bottom, which is a safety hazard. 

4) Rip Currents — While most beaches have signs to warn you about rip currents, you still have to be careful. And if there isn’t a sign, you can look for wrong-way weeds to determine the presence of a rip current. Debris and seaweed move towards the beach as the waves move in and crash on the shore. Debris and seaweed moving out to sea indicate a rip current that could pull you out further or drown you. Rip currents are indicated by water that is a different shade of blue than the surrounding water.

5) Pool Attendants — Public pools should be cleaned at least twice a day to make sure the water doesn’t reach unsafe levels of bacteria contamination. If you are lounging by a pool and don’t see an attendant checking the water at least once, chances are the pool isn’t clean. If you don’t see a pool attendant anywhere, don’t even think about going in. Recreational water illnesses caused by bacteria can include skin irritation, eye irritation, respiratory complications and more.