Getting Clear on Water Clarity
If you are anything like me, you probably have a hard time switching off from work even when the work day is supposed to have been left far behind. My curse is that I cannot enjoy a pool unless it is in the best possible condition.
This was a particular problem a couple of weeks ago when I was sitting by a hotel pool in Daytona Beach which was NOT in good shape. The water was extremely cloudy, so cloudy in fact, that you could barely see the bottom IN THE SHALLOW END! The tile also had a thick black scum line that came off like butter when scraped with my nail. Not nice at all. More importantly, it was not safe for people to swim in. Water clarity is one of THE most vital issues for bather safety.
In June 2002 a 7 year old child drowned at a pool party where more than 30 people were present. The pool was so cloudy that no-one saw the child drowning in the deep end. Unfortunately there are many examples of similar events ending in the same tragic way.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that bathers only swim in pools (public or private) where the water is clear, clean and blue. In addition to the drowning risk, cloudy water suggests an inadequate disinfectant level . Swimming in water such as this brings a higher risk of sickness from bacteria like E. Coli and Pseudomonas or even Cryptosporidium.
I know our children hate to be told what they can and cannot do but our primary job is to keep them safe and healthy while they are under our care. When your children ask for permission to swim in that green pool at the pool party or cloudy resort/hotel pool, stand firm and tell them why it is not safe. Water clarity is extremely important as it can be very dangerous and have a negative impact on health!
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