Safety and sickness in swimming pool, holiday and life - watch out for these danger signs

I just received this. Very interesting and helpful. I checked the people who sent it. They seems to be a company specialising in compensation claims. Hopefully you won't need them if you follow their advice which sounds so sensible and useful. So I thought I'd pass it on to you straight away.

Did you swim in the pool? It’s a question the Sickholiday team ask everyone who makes an enquiry; perhaps a little unnecessarily given 99% of people answer yes. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s the perfect way for holidaymakers both young and old to beat the heat, splash around and generally have fun. In many cases, the pool is the centrepiece of a hotel, somewhat of an “acid test” that can make or break its overall perception.

Pools should provide a safe and controlled environment for a guest’s enjoyment. In some cases however, they fall short. An improperly maintained pool can become a haven for bacteria, resulting in ailments beyond sickness and diarrhoea, including throat and ear infections and unbearable skin rashes. Such infections and rashes are particularly common in young children and can last for weeks at a time, and can also reoccur long after the initial infection.

While guests should play their part in reducing the risk of contamination by showering before entering the pool (compulsory in most places, but mostly unenforced) or abstaining all together if they have been ill, it is up to the hotel to adhere to their own health and safety protocol. Speaking of the “acid test”, we often hear reports of pools being untested for pH levels, which is a critical error. With the average pH level in the human eye being between 7.2-7.4, a pool testing higher or lower by a significant margin can inflict irritation (source). Only when used alongside a correct pH level can chlorine effectively neutralise bacteria.

It’s something many wouldn’t think twice about, but it’s always wise to be vigilant when it comes to your own health and wellbeing. If in doubt - ask, and don’t be afraid to inform hotel staff your concerns. If you notice that a pool is unchlorinated, overly harsh on the eyes, dirty or that someone has had an accident (it happens) – report it immediately. Pool water should look and smell drinkable. If the water is cloudy, smells under or over chlorinated, it probably isn’t safe to swim in.

When in doubt – trust your instincts.

-ENDS-

After reading this I thought, yes, shower first every time. Even if you showered recently in the day. My view is that with germs, and every other risk, life is a balancing act. You cannot eliminate danger completely, but you want to tip your balance in your favour and as Tesco says, 'every little helps'. You just need more of the good than the bad (germs, bacteria, friends, lawyers, police, laws, precautions etc) to be on your side to stay safe.