|
|
|
Safely Enjoying Pool AreaAnudha Mittal, Republished from SafetyIssues.com Vol 2 Issue 20 July 03 |
Volume 4 Issue 44July 2005 |
|
Each year, 350 children under the age of five
drown in the United States. Clearly, pool safety needs to be a serious
safety concern in the summer months. There are some unavoidable dangers,
but some simple precautions can prevent many accidents. Latched fences and constant supervision of the pets when they around a pool are the best ways to prevent accidents. Pool owners should have at least four feet high fences around their pools. It is important to note that some local ordinances may require specific types of pool fencing. |
 |
|
Young children are at most risk of drowning.
Even bath tubs are a risk to them. Most drowning cases of bath tubs occur
when the guardian giving the bath leaves momentarily. Drowning is also
the leading cause of accidental death in children under the age of two.
Therefore, constant supervision is necessary when bathing infants. Your pets are also at risk of drowning. Some adult dogs do not swim, while most puppies are incapable of rescuing themselves out of water due to their little stamina. Puppies under six months, old dogs with poor vision, dogs at unfamiliar places, and dogs that suffer chronic seizures face the greatest danger of drowning. In case a dog drowns and is rescued but does not breathe, CPR and rapid chest compressions are effective ways to attempt to regain breath. |
|
|
Absorption of chlorine is one of the more
unavoidable safety hazards in pools. Most swimming pools have chlorinated
water as chlorine is the most efficient and economic way to disinfect
water supplies. However, as studies reveal, chlorine also presents its
own dangers. Chlorine is absorbed mostly through the skin but also
breathed in. Chlorine is a skin irritant and can cause rashes, acne,
psoriasis, eczema, and other skin diseases. It can destroy
polyunsaturated fatty acids and Vitamin E and cause formation of toxins
that cause oxidation, which is harmful to the human body. Absorption of
chlorine may also cause digestive problems. It destroys intestinal flora,
a necessary bacteria in our body that helps in digestion and formation of
Vitamin K and Vitamin B12. In addition, chlorine and organic compounds in water combine to form trihalomethanes. These are carcinogens and they do not degrade, but instead store in the body’s fatty tissues. They can cause mutations in DNA, decrease the immune system’s effectiveness, and affect the body’s natural cell growth. High frequency absorption of chlorinated water is shown to intensify asthma and several cancers, and malignant melanoma. |
 |
|
Hazards of chlorinated water can be
minimized by reducing the amount of time spent in chlorinated water.
Competitive swimmers can absorb toxic amounts of chlorine during training
sessions. Younger children absorb chemicals more, and thus are more
susceptible to its harms. Hyper-chlorinated water has high acidity and
can erode teeth enamel. Tanning is as much a part of pool life as swimming and has its own safety measures that need to be accounted for. Wrinkles, freckles, burns, cataracts, and increased chances of skin cancer are all results of too much skin exposure to sun light. Regular sun screens wear off quickly because of the constant sweat, towel rubs, and water, therefore, water resistant sunscreens are important. It is also important to be using a sunscreen that is still effective. Most screens decay after two years, a change in the substance’s texture is a good indication of this. If left in heated environments such as the car trunk, the deteriorating process fastens. Vitamin E also helps to protect skin against the sun. It is an anti oxidant which helps to prevent and decrease skin damage and inflammation. It is found in creams and oils and dietary sources such as polyunsaturated vegetable oil, wheat germ, spinach, and sunflower seeds. Vitamin C is also important because it increases the effectiveness of Vitamin E. Orange juice is a good source of Vitamin C. Some foods increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun for some people who are sensitive to the chemical psoralens. Celery, parsnips, carrots, and limes are foods that contain psoralens. Vitamin E makes free radicals, harmful to health, in the presence of UV rays, so if it’s being applied as an oil or cream to the skin, it should be applied within eight hours after sun exposure. Being a little more careful when around the pool will make summer safe and real fun for you and your family. |
|
Email this article to a friendEmail a friend a link to our web site |
Also read: Beach Safety |
|
|
|
|
|
