Pool Etiquette in Motion

Imagine yourself on the beach or at local water park, laying in the sun while reading your favorite book. You're thinking that after a very stressful week at school or work that laying in the sun is the perfect form of meditation. What feels like a few minutes turns into an hour, and your book is getting more intense as you read on. Your keep reading to find out who killed Mr. Smith, and all of a sudden a little boy walks by you and releases a silent fart. Inches before the murder is revealed, you get a whiff of the smell and immediately loose your concentration. As you glance up, there is a little boy that is doing the potty dance, while cramping his stomach because the chili cheese hot dog gave him indigestion problems. The smell gradually worsens as the seconds pass by, and you begin to think about the blog that referred to Healthy Swimming. If only people were aware of the the Triple A's of Healthy Swimming. 

In those regards, The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention enlightens readers that we need to be Aware, take Action, and Advocate a better swimming environment.In order to raise Awareness, we should follow The Six Steps of Healthy Swimming. These are guidelines that are stated in my earlier post; Tips for the Pool, and are directed towards all swimmers and parents of children.  Next, we have to take Action. We need to the take it upon ourselves to check the pool before we enter. In fact, we should test the water using test strips to make sure that the chlorine level is between one and three parts per million, and the pH level is between 7.2 - 7.8 (CDC, 2010). We should also take it upon ourselves to ask the operators questions that include when the water was last tested and what the inspection score was (CDC, 2010). Lastly, we need to Advocate healthy swimming by encouraging pool operators or directors to increase protection in waters, and decrease the spread of germs (CDC, 2010).  Swimmers could advocate that the recreational center should order ultraviolet or ozone technology as a form of pool treatment, and use a stronger chemical, such as Hyperchlorinate, to kill germs in chlorine (CDC, 2010). Likewise, societal member, who are informed about RWIs, can educate others and bring it to their attention (CDC, 2010).  

Envision yourself back at the pool:

"Calling all attendants on the pool deck: Please apply the Triple A's of Healthy Swimming, and be an active member in promoting healthy swimming." As the announcement passes, you  feel more at ease on the pool deck, and resume to your high intensity, mystery novel to find out who killed Mr. Smith.  


The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Triple A's of healthy swimming. Retrieved March 7, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/triple-a-healthy-swimming.html