If you often rent a pool or backyard for your summer parties or vacations, this article is for you. It also helps pool owners understand how to fulfill their guests' expectations when it comes to their health and safety.
We know that many go to the poolside to bear the summer heat and humidity and to relax and spend some great time with their loved ones. Even those not having a pool are seeking ways to get their fix in during the times when most of the public pools are still closed. While some visit the friend’s place, others are turning to a new and popular alternative i.e. “renting” a pool for a day.
With pool rental as a rising business model nowadays, many pool rental apps are rising in popularity. These pool rental apps let you rent a pool from the home located nearby your home. The reason behind this growing trend is the pandemic that led many public pools to shut down for an uncertain period. And the ones opened are still considered a risky experience by many. Pool rentals rose as a great solution.
The pool rental app users can rent pools based on time, duration, and cost. Usually, in the United States, the hourly rates range between $30 and $50, on average, based on the user's location. It means you get to enjoy a cool dip without being worried about any kind of pool maintenance.
However, unfortunately, there is a shortcoming to this trend. There are the health and safety risks involved in using other people’s pools, particularly when COVID-19 is still a big concern.
This article eases this problem by highlighting how to stay safe while using other’s pools this summer, particularly if you are renting one.
The health concerns associated with swimming pool
Pools have always been related to health risks, mainly in the spread of infectious diseases. This includes infections of:
- eyes
- ears
- nose
- throat
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recreational water was one of the major sources behind 208 outbreaks, between 2015 and 2019. This included over 2000 cases of cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite causing diarrhea, and 65 outbreaks of Legionella, a bacterium causing a pneumonia-like illness. These outbreaks led to a total of 13 deaths.
Swimmers are faced with the risk of recreational water illnesses (RWI) that may cause skin and wound infection or mild to extreme irritation. As water fastens the growth of germs and bacteria, there’s a higher chance of illness, particularly to open cuts or wounds. Many germs, bacteria, and chemicals present in the body of water may prolong the wound healing process.
Common symptoms of recreational water illnesses include:
- ear pain or infection
- cough
- congestion
- eye pain or irritation
- diarrhea
- skin rashes
How disease can contaminate the pools
Almost all types of the public body of water may become a host to outbreaks. These include:
- pools
- aquatic centers
- water playgrounds
- spas
- hot tubs
The CDC mentions that disease outbreaks can be resulted due to pathogens and chemicals present in the water. Germs spread easily in pools, traveling in water from person to person. Contaminated water might be swallowed or make contact with the bodies.
If chemicals and cleaning agents such as chlorine aren’t maintained up to the correct level, germs can replicate and be transmitted. This means the pool users may get sick.
Ways to stay healthy
It’s important to take some measures to reduce the risk of illness while swimming in the pool.
Being cautious not just protects you but also those present around you. Adopting safer swimming practices makes sure that you and your loved ones are saved from such second-hand infections.
Here are a few safety guidelines to take care of when you use the pool:
- Shower before and after swimming.
- Avoid swallowing pool water.
- Cover open cuts or wounds.
- Do your health inspection.
- Don’t swim if you are ill.
- Keep ears dry.
- Take regular bathroom breaks.
Shower before and after swimming
The best way to decrease the risk of illness is by reducing the level of contamination in the swimming pool. One way to ensure this is to take shower before and after you swim. Taking a shower before going into the swimming pool has been proven to reduce contamination by cutting the number of microorganisms, chemicals, and sweat that transfer to the water.
It’s also recommended to take a shower after swimming using antibacterial soap to curtail any germs present in the body before they can cause any disease.
Avoid swallowing pool water
Every swimmer takes billions of microbes into the water, with them. This includes pee, yep, and fecal matter. According to some studies, adults, on average, swallow 1 tablespoon of water every 45 minutes during swimming. Given those microbes present around, it’s sufficient to make one sick.
Kids are at an expressively higher risk, swallowing 2.5 tablespoons per 45 minutes, on average.
You can minimize the quantity of contaminated water entering your body by keeping the mouth out of the water or avoiding swallowing it, at least.
Cover open cuts and wounds
Covering open cuts and wounds with a strong bandage is vital to prevent contamination and fasten the healing process of the wound. Moreover, germs or bacteria from open cuts or wounds can contaminate communal water and quicken the movement of injurious pathogens. Properly covering up cuts and wounds protects everyone in the pool.
It’s significant to get bandages that keep the cuts or wounds dry and protected. It is recommended to use waterproof bandages.
Do your health inspection
Chlorine helps curtail the pool's germs to a significant extent. Before jumping into a rented pool, it’s always advisable to know the water chemical levels yourself.
This can be performed with portable test strips, like branded Pool and Spa Test Strips or a liquid testing kit.
Don’t swim if you are ill
Save others by avoiding swimming in the pool if you’re not feeling well. Any germs in or on your body might be transmitted to others.
This is particularly important if you have long been experiencing symptoms of diseases like diarrhea. As recommended by CDC, if you’ve been identified with Crypto (or Cryptosporidium), don’t swim for at least 2 weeks after symptoms stop.
Keep ears dry
It might be hard to keep your ears fully dry, but doing so can help decrease your risk of contracting a disease-causing germ that could result in the development of an illness. You can keep your ears dry as much as possible by using swim caps, earplugs, or appropriate sanitation processes post-swimming activities. Germs and bacteria can enter your body through the ears, so it’s imperative to dry any surplus moisture, particularly in children.
Take regular bathroom breaks
For better pool hygiene, there should be no pooping or peeing in the pool.
If there are kids around, it’s best to take them off to the bathroom after every hour or two to help ensure no bodily fluids are coming out accidentally. Practicing good pool courtesy and taking regular restroom breaks help avoid bodily fluids from polluting shared waters. This transmission of fluids can cause illness and infection of others.
Tips to encounter some serious situations
- Post-swim skin irritation
Hot tub rash appears when you have a contaminated pool, but it can also be seen after swimming in a poorly treated heated pool. The germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes rashes, and it often is visible on skin covered by a suit. Hence hours in a wet bikini can worsen the situation.
To prevent it, avoid waxing or shaving before taking a swim and always wash your body with soap and water and dry yourself as soon as possible after being in a pool.
If you see red itchy bumps or little pus-filled blisters, consult with your doctor to get a prescription for some anti-itch cream.
- Post-swim ear irritation
This is the infection in the outer ear canal. It is not transmitted from person to person. Rather, it’s caused when the water remains in the ear canal for a long period, causing bacteria to grow and cause problems. Germy pool water is the biggest offender.
If you are vulnerable to this condition, try swimming wearing earplugs. Your doctor can custom fit you for them. They might also be able to give you ear drops that avoid the swimmer's ear. After swimming, tip the head to drain water from the ear canal, and always dry ears with a towel.
In case of red, itching, painful, or swollen ears, consult with your doctor to check if you feel like you can't get water out of your ear or it starts to bring the symptoms as mentioned above. Swimmer’s ear is generally treated with antibiotic ear drops.
Final Thoughts
With rising, the use of pool rental apps shows that the pool rental trend is only going to rise in the future. And for good reason. Renting a nearby private pool or backyard, or even a water playground, is an ideal and economical way to beat the summer heat and enjoy great vacation time.
However, diving into someone else’s pool potentially comes with health risks, including the potential of contracting a transferrable agent and recreational water-related illnesses.
After all the discussion about the pool germs and what harm they can cause to our bodies, you might want to avoid that cool dip in the rented pool altogether. We aren’t scaring you, but this unpleasant information should help you stick to the best hygiene tips and practices as mentioned in this article to stay safe and healthy.
It’s significant to take steps to keep you and your loved ones safe so all can enjoy keeping cool in the water.