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Swim to safety
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Swimming is fun and relaxing. But it's important to watch one's behaviour in the pool
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THE SCORCHING summer is here already. Nothing feels so good on the burning skin than a cool dip in a clean swimming pool. But what should be a relaxing experience — to luxuriate in the silky softness of the water — becomes stressful because of the chaos, unsafe behaviour, noise, and indiscipline one sees in and around the pool. A little awareness, a few behavioural modifications and some consideration for others will make it an enjoyable and safe summer for everyone.
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 for the others. You might find rules such as wearing a proper swimming suit or taking a shower before entering the pool irritating, for you are not there to bathe or clean yourself. But each one's personal hygiene is a pre-requisite.
Tying up long hair or confining it with a cap (who wants to see long hair floating about in the pool?) is important. So is not doing things such as spitting, spouting water, or blowing your nose in the pool.
Dos and don'ts
Do not wear a watch or ornate jewellery. It is also a good idea to keep your finger and toe nails clipped short. 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 back dives, somersaults, and jumping 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 on them either. Tone down your "wild strokes". Some peoples' wild backstroke and butterfly arm 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 sidewall 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, 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.
Not just kids
If you think all this applies only for children 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 them into the pool? Such a person is not only not worried about the safety of his/her child, but he/she has even forgotten the safety of the other swimmers.
Swimming can be as dangerous, as it is relaxing, unless everyone using the pool behaves responsibly with due consideration for others. Ultimately, the individual pool rules and the lifeguard enforcing them are the final word, whether you like it, agree with it or not. Once you do that, you can enjoy one of the most pleasurable activities of summer — a dip in your local swimming pool.
Chitra S. Danger
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