A lot of people like to swim, including totegirl. Swimming is considered a sport with low risk of injury.
But, you still have to be careful as there are some health risk with swimming.
Here are some possible health risks you must be aware of:
Drowning, inhalation airising from:
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Adverse water conditions swamping or overwhelming the swimmer or causing water inhalation.
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Negative buoyancy when attached to a heavy object or entrapment e.g. in a sinking ship.
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Actions of others pushing under water accidentally in play or intentionally.
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Exhaustion or unconsciousness.
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Incapacitation through shallow water blackout, heart attacks, carotid sinus syncope or stroke.
Adverse effects of immersion-
Secondary drowning, where inhaled salt water creates a foam in the lungs that restricts breathing.
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Salt Water Aspiration Syndrome, SWAS.
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Thermal shock after jumping into water can cause the heart to stop.
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Exostosis which is an abnormal growth in the ear canal due to the frequent, long-term splashing of water into the ear canal. (Known as Surfer’s ear or Swim ear)
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Injuries may heal more slowly if submerged in water.
Exposure to chemicals
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Chlorine in the eyes; in chlorinated swimming pools the chlorine may burn the eyes, stopping shortly after leaving the water but may be persistent and serious. Other disinfection techniques using, for example, ozone can avoid this effect.
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Chlorine inhalation; breathing small quantities of chlorine gas from the water surface whilst swimming for long periods of time may have an adverse effect on the lungs.
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Chlorine also has a negative cosmetic effect after repeated long exposure, turning blonde hair green and turning teeth brown.
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Infection
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Water is an excellent environment for many bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses affecting humans depending on water quality.
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Skin infections from both swimming and shower rooms can cause athlete’s foot (boat bug). The easiest way to avoid this is drying the space between the toes after swimming.
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Microscopic parasites such as Cryptosporidium can be resistant to chlorine and can cause diarrheal illness when swimmers swallow pool water.
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Ear infections, otitis media, (otitis externa).
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Legionnaires’ disease may have been transmitted by showers after swimming. Heating the shower water to 60 °C (140 °F) once per week during closing time will disinfect the water system.
