Should I send my child to the pool?

At what age can I send my child to learn swimming?

How will it affect his physical development? How will chlorine affect his health? What conditions must the pool areas meet? Everything you need to know to rest assured that it's safe!

Swimming pools are a pole of attraction for children, as they combine coolness with team play and sports. The pool is an arweb space for full body exercise. The child, when he is in the water, does not need to rest on his legs or his back to do an exercise. In this way injuries and injuries to the musculoskeletal system and joints, which are often observed when children "jump" on the ground while playing ball or doing gymnastics, are avoided. Swimming is therefore considered one of the most ideal sports for the smooth physical development of the child. But, despite its advantages, it also hides dangers. Therefore, before enrolling your child in a private or public swimming pool, it is advisable to first inform yourself about the hygiene and safety rules that are observed in these areas and about the necessary actions that you as a parent must take in order to avoid unwanted ... adventures.

What exams are required ;

Before taking your child to the pool, the first thing you should do is make sure they have a medical check-up. See a pediatrician, who will take a detailed medical history and ask for a family medical history at the same time to see if anyone in the family has a health problem that the child may have inherited, and not is knownThe.

As soon as the swimming pools have the results of this clinical check and medical history in their hands, they are legally protected, because it has been determined internationally that the above tests are capable of protecting a child against 85% from possible health problems that may manifest themselves against during its exercise. But what about the rest of the 15%? Can a parent be complacent?

To rule out these possibilities as well, take your child to a cardiologist for an electrocardiogram as well as an ultrasound of the heart. The electrocardiogram and the clinical check must be repeated once a year, while the ultrasound is only done at the beginning, that is, when the child begins systematic swimming lessons, to rule out various hereditary diseases that may cause some fainting, which in the pool may be fatal.

If everything is fine, the child can start swimming in the pool. If there is now a health problem, in most cases at least, swimming is not forbidden, it's just that - depending on the case - the doctor will give directions on what kind of exercise to follow. In this case, the coach should be informed, so that he pays particular attention to the child who is facing a health problem. Swimming is also recommended as a form of exercise for children with asthma.

What is the right age to start swimming? ;

Most pools accept children from 4 years of age and older, so that they are out of diapers, able to understand the instructions given by their instructor, and to some extent can protect themselves from the possibility of drowning. Of course, this in no way means that children of this age can stay alone in the pool. They must always be under the supervision of their coach.

Each section usually has 17 to 18 children, who are supervised by two teachers and two lifeguards. Children 4 to 5 years old bathe in a small pool, where they step. From 5 onwards they enter the large pool. There are, however, also some swimming pools that have included in their program sections for toddlers from 2 to 3 years old. At this age, children may not be able to learn push-ups and backstroke, but they are familiar with the water and enjoy the benefits of exercise. For each toddler there is a teacher, who is also in the pool helping him.

Infants must wear a life jacket. The water in the toddler pool must be warmer (31-32 degrees Celsius) than the others (28-29 degrees Celsius) and the children's stay in it should not exceed 20 minutes, because then they start to get cold.

How much time before the bath to eat ;

The child must not have eaten for at least two to three hours before coming to the swimming pool. This is because, when there is gastric load, i.e. when the stomach is full, pressure is created on the diaphragm and breathing does not work properly. The child, therefore, finds it particularly difficult to move in the water.

But the greatest danger is that with vigorous movements the contents of the stomach can regurgitate upwards and cause the child to suffocate. On the other hand, it is not right for the child to go to the pool completely fasting, because he may feel exhausted and faint. It is good for him to drink a milk, a juice, eat two fruits or a light snack an hour and a half before, but never a main meal.

How many times a week and how long to swim ;

The child cannot go to the pool once or twice a month, because water sports are something outside the environment where we live and, when there is such a long time between exercises, the child loses his form. So, every time he has to swim in the pool it seems so difficult, as if he is swimming for the first time.

However, it is not possible for children, with their busy schedule (school, tutoring), to go to the swimming pool every day, so three times a week is considered a good frequency. Regarding the time spent in the water, in most swimming pools there is an instruction that exercise is not allowed for more than an hour and a quarter, and this is because with prolonged swimming the body loses a lot of fluids, the child becomes thirsty and there is a risk of dehydration . (Most swimming lessons last 45 minutes.)

Chlorine can damage it ;

The amount of chlorine they pour into the pool is not capable of irritating the children's skin, nor harming their health in general – on the contrary, it protects it from germs. The only thing that can be observed is a slight drying of the skin, which is treated with some moisturizing cream. Chlorine is necessary because it kills every micro-organism, so children are not at risk of contracting any communicable skin disease. No skin disease is transmitted in the pool water. This can only happen outside the pool, in the changing rooms, where children come into contact by hugging each other or changing bathrobes and slippers.

Indoor or outdoor pool ;

Open pools are considered healthier than closed ones, because the child is constantly in contact with fresh air, while - on the contrary - in closed ones, the water vapor of the pool and the large crowding of young and old favors the transmission of viruses. Many parents, of course, do not prefer open pools, fearing that their child will catch a cold.

However, experts argue that, when the child comes out of the pool, his body's defenses are so strong that he is not in danger of catching a cold at that moment, as long as he immediately puts on his bathrobe and rushes to the changing room. A child can catch a cold when they get out of the shower, where their body starts to relax, so they should be properly dressed when leaving the changing room. In other words, if the weather is cold, he must have wiped his ears well to avoid ear infections, wear warm clothes and don't forget to put on his cap. (The indoor pools operate all year round, while the outdoor ones usually open in March and close at the end of October.)

Useful tips for every contingency 

To avoid accidents that happen in swimming pools, E.KAT.O. (Hellenic Consumer Organization) advises parents:

• Never leave the child alone, without adult supervision, near a swimming pool
• Make sure your child does not have access to the pool or other place with standing water alone.
• Make sure you have the necessary rescue equipment (life jacket, rope, etc.).
• Remove all chairs and tables from the pool area, as the child may climb on and fall into the water.
• When he is near the pool and does not know how to bathe, make sure he always wears his armbands.
• After bathing, remove all floating objects, such as toys and inflatables, from the water.
• Learn to apply first aid and how to help someone who is in danger of drowning.
• Teach the child to swim from an early age, as well as to have a sense of danger.
• Fence the entire area around the pool with continuous bars-fences with a minimum height of 1 m, equipped with a door - preferably automatic - with a hermetic canopy, with an audible alarm and infrared rays, placed on the surface of the water or around the installation, so that they detect the approach of the child (inform the technician who installed your pool). It is necessary to always remember that:
• A child can drown in less than 3 minutes, even in 30 cm of water.
• A child who receives first aid immediately is five times more likely to be saved from drowning.
• Only visit swimming pools that take all the preventive safety measures for children (fencing, existence of rescue equipment, presence of a special supervisor, etc.).

The little swimmer should always keep in mind :

• Do not come to the swimming pool when you have a health problem or are not feeling well.
• Before entering the pool, go to the bathroom, take a shower and go through the foot disinfection tank.
• Always wear a swimming cap to prevent hair from falling into the water.
• Leave all your personal belongings in the locker room. It's a good idea not to take valuables with you when you go to the swimming pool.
• Always leave the space (changing rooms, toilets, showers) clean, as it was before you used it.
• Shoes are not allowed in the locker room.
• The use of sunscreen and any other cream before entering the pool is prohibited.
• Spitting or spraying water from the mouth and blowing the nose into the tank is prohibited.
• Lively and dangerous games are prohibited.
• Diving from any part of the swimming pool is prohibited.
• Follow the instructions written on the signs posted around the pool.
• Point out to your coach anything that you think could threaten the safety and health of the athletes.

We thank Mr. Basilis Lykomitros, orthopedic surgeon, sports doctor, world rowing champion, Mr. Stylianos Michailidis, pulmonologist-intensivist, deputy director of the Pulmonary Department of the "Amalia Fleming" Hospital, Mr. Kostas Blantis, technical advisor at sports club "Tritona" of Amarousiou and former coach and water polo athlete, Mr. Giorgos Nikolaou, lifeguard and swimming and water polo coach of "Tritona" of Amarousiou, Mrs. Ioanna Plaka, professor of Physical Education, swimming coach of the swimming club "Posidonas" » Ilision, and the Hellenic Consumer Organization (E.KAT.O.).

Source: http://www.vita.gr/