Swimming pools are meant to be fun, relaxing, and safe environments for everyone, including families and children. Sadly, many times, they’re also breeding grounds for unsightly behaviors. We’ve compiled 18 of these behaviors that might make you think twice before taking your next dip in a public pool.
Ignoring Shower Rules
Swimmers often, and rather comfortably, ignore directions to shower before getting into the pool, and for you, there are many disgusting implications. CBC shares that, apart from sweat and lotions getting into the pool, you risk swimming in water contaminated with fecal matter and parasites from other people. Shockingly, more than half of swimmers are responsible for this.
Urinating in the Pool
Yes, they know how unsanitary it is to pee in the pool, but many people do it anyway. It’s just a way to avoid a ‘long’ trip to the bathroom. But what they don’t know is that urine depletes the chlorine’s anti-germ qualities, making swimming in it not just disgusting but also dangerous for themselves.
Leaving Trash Behind
It’s also all too common to see people treat the pool like their trash cans, leaving behind plastic wraps, unfinished food, bandages, and other forms of trash, not caring how unhygienic this is. What’s worse is that this then attracts pests to the pool, making it even less healthy for you to swim in.
Not Using Swim Diapers
Some parents also fail to put swim diapers on their toddlers, which can lead to fecal accidents in the pool. This is a major health hazard, with the potential to spread bacteria like E. coli into the water, which poses serious health risks to other swimmers. Some also fail to change these diapers, which, more or less, eventually has the same consequences.
Spitting in the Water
Spitting in the pool is not only unpleasant but also introduces germs into the water, which can spread illnesses. It’s a behavior that shows a disregard for the health and comfort of others, potentially spreading infections such as the common cold or even more serious respiratory illnesses among swimmers.
Wearing Street Clothes
Wearing street clothes in the pool can introduce fibers, dyes, and other unsuitable materials into the water, which can clog filters and degrade water quality. There’s the risk that it also introduces airborne and waterborne contaminants into the pool, but people still do it, putting others in harm’s way.
Ignoring Capacity Limits
We also see people overcrowd pools by ignoring capacity limits, which, of course, means increased water contamination and reduced safety for everyone. It’s even more important to follow all limits to ensure everyone’s comfort and security, considering that when pools become too crowded, it becomes difficult for lifeguards to monitor all swimmers, increasing the risk of accidents.
Using the Pool as a Bathtub
People washing off their body makeup or hair products in the pool add unnecessary chemicals to the water, complicating its maintenance and potentially causing skin irritations for others. These substances can also affect water clarity and pH levels, making the pool less safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Jumping in Without Looking
There are also unending cases of people jumping into crowded areas of the pool without looking, which is understandably dangerous. It’s reckless behavior that can lead to injuries both for the jumper and for others swimming nearby. It’s crucial to be aware of one’s surroundings to prevent collisions and ensure that all swimmers can enjoy a safe environment.
Blowing Nose in the Pool
Many people also discharge nasal mucus into the pool, which is not only gross but also a health hazard that contributes to the spread of viruses and bacteria among swimmers. Such actions can significantly increase the risk of contaminating the water with pathogens that can lead to respiratory and other infections.
Eating in the Pool
Some individuals eat their snacks in the pool, causing food particles to contaminate the water. This can attract insects and degrade water quality even further, and decomposing food particles can also disrupt the chemical balance of the pool, necessitating additional maintenance.
Playing Loud Music
It’s also common to see many people blaring music without regard for others—not minding how this disrupts the peaceful pool environment. They don’t care if it prevents swimmers from relaxing or hearing important safety announcements or whether this loud music creates a chaotic atmosphere that detracts from the overall enjoyment and relaxation that many seek at the pool.
Applying Sunscreen in the Pool
Applying sunscreen while in the pool washes the lotion off into the water, making the water greasy and affecting its chemical balance and clarity. In public pools, residue from this act can lead to more frequent filter changes and disruptions in the pool’s chemical management. This increases maintenance costs and efforts to clean the pool.
Ignoring Lifeguard Instructions
When swimmers ignore lifeguards’ instructions, they compromise the safety of everyone in the pool. Lifeguards are there to ensure everyone’s safety, and disregarding their commands can lead to preventable accidents and injuries, highlighting the need for cooperation and respect for authority figures. Nonetheless, people still exhibit this behavior.
Bringing Pets Along
Pets are not typically allowed in public pools, and sneaking them in can introduce fur and potential diseases to the water, in addition to violating health regulations. This can also cause allergic reactions for other swimmers and additional strain on filtration systems, complicating pool maintenance and hygiene.
Smoking Near the Pool
People also smoke near pools, a habit disrespectful to non-smokers. They contaminate the air and can leave debris in the water, deteriorating the overall pool environment and neglecting how much of a health hazard secondhand smoke is. This is a problem, especially in public spaces where people come to improve their health and relax.
Hogging Pool Equipment
Some swimmers also monopolize pool floats or other equipment, preventing others from enjoying the facilities equally. We should all know that sharing is crucial in public spaces to ensure everyone has a good time. This behavior only leads to frustrations and conflicts. It detracts from the communal and inclusive nature of public pool resources.
Faking Drowning
Lastly, and most frighteningly, many people also pretend to drown as a prank. And that they terrify onlookers is just minor to the actual problem. Doing this diverts the lifeguard’s attention from real emergencies—they undermine the lifeguards’ ability to respond effectively to genuine emergencies, potentially endangering other people’s lives.
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