Myths exist in all areas of life; including swimming and swimming pools. As you read, you’ll probably remember hearing this from your mother or grandmother in years past and we know that these myths still carry some weight. We’d like to share five swimming pool myths and the facts surrounding them, so you know what is, and what is not, to be believed.
Myth #1: Wait an hour after you eat before going swimming
Who hasn’t heard that one? This sentence implies that swimming immediately after eating will lead to life-threatening cramps as your food will not have digested yet. The notion is that the pain will make it difficult for you to stay afloat.
Swimming does divert the blood to the muscles and away from the action of digestion, which can lead to cramping, but the idea of sinking at this point is rather exaggerated.
Myth #2: If you urinate in the pool, the pool water will change color
Not such a bad scare tactic because who wants to swim in pool water that is full of urine? The truth is, however, that there is no such pill or chemical additive that will point out someone who tinkles in the pool. For the most part, proper levels of chlorine will cancel out any effects of contamination.
Myth #3: A heavy chemical smell is an indication of a clean pool
This couldn’t be less true. A pool that is properly disinfected with the proper combination of chemicals should be completely free of any chemical smell. If you sense a strong odor, the effect is caused by chloramines which are the byproducts of chlorine’s reaction to contaminants brought in by swimmers. These contaminants include perspiration, urine, body oils and cosmetics, to name a few. When this occurs, chemical treatment may be necessary to restore the right balance in the pool.
Myth #4: Chlorine in the pool give you red eyes
We’ve all seen people who come out of the pool with irritated, itchy red eyes. While generally blamed on chlorine, this is generally not the cause at all. As with the heavy chemical smell, the cause of red eyes is often chloramines again.
Myth #5: Rashes, swimmer’s ear, and red stinging eyes are caused by high levels of chlorine
No, the truth is rashes and swimmer’s ear are usually caused by bacteria. Many times, the rashes develop under the bathing suit, where the environment is warm and damp. The same is true for swimmer’s ear. Water is trapped in the ear with bacteria, and the bacteria then thrive. To help prevent rashes, rinse promptly after getting out of the pool. You can use commercial drops or drops made from one-part alcohol and one-part vinegar before and after swimming to help prevent swimmer’s ear.
These three myths centered around Chlorine. At Hawaiian Pool Builders, we can arrange a maintenance package with you to keep your pool properly chlorinated, thereby eliminating having to answer these common misconceptions.
The next time someone tosses out one of these myths, you can set the record straight. Of course, we can arrange a maintenance package with you to keep your pool properly chlorinated, thereby eliminating having to answer these common misconceptions.
