Pool season is upon us, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued guidelines for healthy swimming throughout the summer.
Germs enter a pool through the millions of microbes on human bodies. The CDC says the average swimmer brings the following ‘gunk’ and microbes into a pool:
• Hair: 10 million microbes
• Spit: 8 million microbes in a single drop
• Hands: 5 million microbes
• Poop: 140 billion microbes
o A kid brings 10 grams of poop—the weight of 4 pennies—with 10 trillion microbes
• Nose, mouth, skin: Billions of microbes
• Skin products: Lotions, cosmetics, soaps
• Sweat: 1 or 2 soda cans
• Pee: 1 cup
During 45 minutes of the swimming, the average adult will swallow one tablespoon of water, and the average child will swallow two and a half tablespoons. These measurements are enough to cause diarrhea and other illnesses.
To maintain a healthier pool, stay out of the water if you have diarrhea and always shower before entering. Do not pee or poop in the pool and try to avoid swallowing water.
A strong chemical smell does not mean a pool is clean. The odor develops when chlorine mixes with the ‘gunk’ and bodily fluids. The combination can cause red stinging eyes, runny noses, and coughs. The lighter the smell, the healthier the pool.