On a day with intense heat, you might be looking for a fun and relaxing way to cool down. Going in for a swim in your pool is a great option to cool yourself. You can even swim in it if you feel like some exercise. However, it would help if you didn’t judge a book by its cover, as the beautiful blue water may contain dangers you are unaware of, some so dangerous that you might even need to call emergency services.
Hence, before you decide to dive in with your swimming suit and pool float, you must review the pool for any safety hazards. Don’t know what to look for? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, learn seven signs your pool isn’t safe for swimming.
Signs Your Pool Isn’t Safe For Swimming
1. The Pool isn’t Looking Great
The first and most prominent of the signs your pool isn’t safe for swimming is if the water doesn’t look pleasant to swim in. Pools are usually outdoors, so it’s no surprise that dirt and other unwanted particles, such as dead leaves, can fly into the water, making the pool unhygienic.
If you notice that the pool has indeed seen better days, then you are better off putting your swimming session on hold until the pool has been cleaned.
This kind of debris makes it unhealthy to swim in the waters as it can cause harm your skin and cause irritation as well. Additionally, it isn’t uncommon to swallow some water while swimming around in your pool. If the water is seriously contaminated, swallowing it can also affect your well-being.
Furthermore, if the pool hasn’t been under maintenance for a while, that is another reason to look out for hidden threats. Ensure that your pool has intact drain covers, as the strong suction may cause someone to get trapped underwater. It would be best if you got your hands on the best pool-cleaning equipment to eliminate unwanted debris. Otherwise, you can call for pool cleaning services that will do an excellent job for you.
2. Lack of Professional Maintenance
Whether you go to a public pool or have one in your own backyard, it is always necessary to have someone who knows all about taking care of the pool. Why?
Well, there are a lot of in-depth procedures and tests that we, the general public, simply lack knowledge of. This is where the pool manager steps in and keeps the pool in good condition.
The pool manager is in charge of testing the pool’s chemical levels, and it should be done at least twice a day if it is a public pool with lots of traffic and twice a week if it’s your own personal pool. You can also learn the process yourself, buy the equipment and test the pool water on your own.
The tests will include examining things such as the chlorine level, which, if not monitored properly, may lead to norovirus infection. This can cause vomiting and cramps.
Additionally, no matter how beautifully you design your pool, if you notice that the water is cloudy, don’t scuff it off and dive in anyway, as this can cause you bodily harm.
Cloudy water indicates that lots of minerals are present and so the chlorine will not work effectively either. This, in turn, increases the bacteria and virus levels in the water. And so, if the water is cloudy, then it’s time for some proper maintenance!
3. Watch Out For Algae & Rust
Two other visible signs your pool isn’t safe for swimming if algae and rust. Algae produce toxic elements and grow in dirty pools that are exposed to sunlight. Algae releasing harmful toxins into the water makes it unhygienic to swim in.
If you notice that your pool has a green-colored, slimy, and smelly film that floats on top of the surface, this is a sign of growing algae. Furthermore, if the smell is off, then you should avoid the pool at all costs
Additionally, it would help if you looked for rust near the pool, whether it’s the pool liner or any other pool component/ equipment. If components are rusted or cracked, then bacteria can hide within them. If that wasn’t enough, rough, rusted spots could also cut you if grazed by them. Cuts from rusted spots may lead to infections, not to mention that blood will be mixed in the pool water now.
4. Low Supervision
This is more of a case when you are in a public pool, but when there are children, supervision is mandatory even in your home pool. If the pool is public, you should see if there are enough professional lifeguards around. These lifeguards will act accordingly when people are facing any danger.
Even if you are in a private backyard pool, there should still be an adult that can act if required. You should also ensure that the person standing guard can provide emergency services such as CPR.
These lifeguards are especially needed when there are many children around the pool, and one lifeguard in a public pool is often not enough. Hence, you should be wary of your child’s safety if you plan to take them swimming, regardless of where it may be.
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5. The Pool is Packed With People
Another thing that works as a sign your pool isn’t safe for swimming is if there are way too many people in there. Whether it’s a backyard pool party or just a busy day in a public pool, this scenario has harmful elements. Congestion is just the beginning, as many other underlying problems also originate from overcrowding.
First things first, people tend to bring in dirt, bacteria, and various other components along with these when they enter the pool. When this happens, the manager must raise the chlorine levels as the water will become hazardous to swim in very quickly otherwise. Then there is also the problem of supervision tied to this.
If there are too many people, one or two lifeguards will not be able to monitor all of them simultaneously, so accidents may occur without anyone being aware.
6. Lack of Safety Precautions
A pool is not an entirely harmless place, and accidents may occur, especially if there is a lack of safety precautions being taken. This applies to both private and public swimming pools. Go around and survey the pool to see if everything is in place and when you and your friends or family are safe from any possible accidents. After all, prevention is better than cure when dealing with accidents.
Now let’s talk about the things you should check before diving in. First, check that safety fences and flotation devices are in place so that accidents such as kids falling into the pool or drowning can be prevented. There should also be a defibrillator and other medical equipment present nearby. Additionally, there should also be facilities for disabled people to help them get in and out of the swimming pool.
The pool fence is especially vital in preventing little children from getting into deadly accidents, so much so that many places even have laws that state that pools must have a 4 feet-high fence to prevent children from walking in.
Additionally, there are also pool supervisors known as water watchers who also work to reduce the chances of drowning. Together, these make a safe and healthy environment for you and your family to swim in.
Conclusion
All in all, regardless of how much money you spend on getting a pool in your backyard, a lack of maintenance will not only ruin the pool, but you will also not be able to enjoy the swimming pool if you can’t even get in due to contamination. Even going to public pools, you should be aware of your surroundings, as an accident is only a small mistake away.
Hence, ensuring that you and your loved ones are saved should always be your first priority, even if you have to spend a little bit on safety measures. We hope this article helped you identify signs that your pool isn’t safe for swimming, and we wish you good luck.
FAQs
At What Age Can Children Start Learning to Swim?
Children can start learning to swim between the ages of 1 and 4 at least.
What Level of Chlorination to Keep the Pool In?
Experts recommend a level of pH 7.2-7.8 and a free chlorine level of about 1ppm.
When Should I Work on My Pool’s Maintenance?
You should do some maintenance-related work on your pool soon after it has been frequently used in a short time span. Otherwise, you should do maintenance about once or twice a week.
