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Swimming can be as dangerous as it is relaxing. Here are some suggestions to make it a pleasant experience
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Season for swimmers: But remember it is a community activity
THE SCORCHING summer heat is here already! Nothing feels so good on burning skin than a cool dip in a clean swimming pool. What should be a relaxing experience becomes stressful because of the chaos, unsafe practices, noise and indiscipline one comes across in and around the pool. A little awareness, a few behavioural modifications and some consideration for others will make swimming an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone.
Community activity
Beginners must accept the fact that this is a community activity and each one has the responsibility to keep the environment and the water clean. You might find rules like wearing a proper swimming suit, or taking a shower before entering the pool irritating; and have quite often flouted them. You are not there to bathe or clean yourself. You are there to swim, and each one's personal hygiene is a pre-requisite.
Tying up long hair or confining it with a cap (who wants to see an oil slick, or long hair floating about?) is as important as not discharging anything from your body including spitting, spouting water, or blowing your nose.
Dos and don'ts
Do not wear a watch or jewellery that has sharp edges. It is also a good idea to keep your finger and toe nails clipped. These can scratch other swimmers in a busy pool.
Diving and jumping into a pool is great fun, no doubt. Unfortunately, these are very dangerous if you have not checked the position and speed of other swimmers in the pool. The same applies for somersaults and diving backwards!
This is also not the place to play rough, like dunking the other person, running and jumping or splashing water around. It is dangerous and disturbs the other swimmers; people sitting by the pool are not going to enjoy getting splashed with water either! Tone down "wild strokes"! Some peoples' wild backstroke and butterfly strokes can hit other swimmers. In the middle of lap swimming, don't stop all of a sudden without checking if there are people behind you, otherwise you will set the stage for a major collision. If you must take a breather, move to the side wall of the pool. Swimmers who want to take a short break should specifically avoid standing or floating in the middle of the lane as this interferes with others enjoying their swim. In a busy pool, please don't bring your beach ball and start playing with your friends. You are sharing the pool with lots of others and this is not your private playground.
If you think all this applies only to kids horsing around in a swimming pool, think twice. Adults are equally irresponsible. Have we not witnessed a parent holding a child on his/her shoulders and throwing him/her into the pool? It is not a question of you being careful with your child; you have just forgotten the safety of the other swimmers!
Swimming can be as dangerous as it is relaxing. Ultimately, the individual pool rules and the lifeguard enforcing them are the final word, whether you like it or not. And now enjoy one of the most pleasurable parts of summer - the swimming pool.
CHITRA S. DANGER
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