Public Swimming Pools Risks

Public swimming pools are a great way to combat soaring summer temperatures, but they also have the potential to serve as a significant health and safety risk. Along with safety risks associated with pools and swimming, public pools frequently experience high volumes of swimmers, which can contribute to increased rates of bacteria or water contamination. A few simple precautions can combat most of the risks associated with public swimming pools.

Drowning and Injury

• In any situation where more than a few inches of water are involved, there is a risk of drowning. The overall risk of drowning is actually decreased at public swimming pools where lifeguards are present. The high volume of swimmers at a public pool, however, can create dangerous situations for novice swimmers. Young swimmers may be overwhelmed in a pool crowded with people; all children should be partnered with an adult during swimming in a public pool.

  Injuries also are hazards at a public pool. Many public pools use skid-resistant surfaces for decks and walking areas, but incidences of slipping are likely due to the amount of water that is tracked out of the pool by multiple swimmers. Crowded public pools facilitate accidental injuries caused by swimmers bumping into one another. Lifeguards are first aid certified, however, and public pools are required to maintain adequate safety and injury equipment and supplies.

Recreational Water Illness

• Public pools are held to high standards for cleanliness by local boards of health, but maintaining properly sanitized water is much more difficult in pools with high volumes of swimmers. Most public pools require swimmers to shower before entering the pool, but even rinsing does not rid a body of bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies pool-related infections and diseases under the term recreation water illness (RWI). The most common forms of RWI are caused by swimmers inhaling bacteria from pool water that has not been properly sanitized through upkeep with chemicals. According to a study by the CDC, the most common hazardous materials in public pool water were fecal matter and urine, both of which can reduce the level of chlorine in a pool and support the growth of harmful bacteria. Gastrointestinal infections caused by inhaled or swallowed bacteria are the most common illnesses caused by swimming pools. Incidences of diarrhea have been linked to the bacteria cryptosporidium, a germ that thrives in unclean public pool water. Other infections may cause wound infections, rashes or respiratory distress.

Chemical Exposure

• The water in public pools must be kept properly sanitized to reduce the rates of bacteria; pool water is maintained through a steady supply of pool chemical designed to kill germs and keep the water clear. The high levels of chemicals are not hazardous to healthy adults, but unhealthy adults, small children and people with certain allergies or chemical sensitivities may have negative reactions as a result of exposure to pool chemicals. Even people who regularly swim in their own pool may experience rashes or respiratory illness due to the higher concentration of chemicals used to maintain public pool water.

Water Inlets and Drains

• Public pools are often larger than residential pools; maintaining adequate water circulation requires the installation of powerful water pumps and drains. Water inlets on the sides and bottom of public pools create suction that is powerful enough to caused serious injury. Long hair or small fingers can get sucked into a water inlet and damage tissues. In the most severe cases, a person can become stuck to a drain on the bottom of the pool and be unable to free themselves, which can cause drowning or serious injury to the intestines and lower digestive tract.