Health Risks When Mermaiding in POOLS

[AniaR]

So, I've been a pro mermaid now for almost 6 years. 4 of them have been spent in maximum overdrive, 2 were spent doing a lot of volunteer stuff. I have experienced loads of health things that are directly related to swimming as a mermaid. Some are obvious, some not so much... let's talk about em! FYI this is specifically about POOLS. I will be discussing other risk areas like lakes and oceans in another thread, since there are things unique to only them.

disclaimer: while I am a mermaid professional, I do not replace the advice of your physician!

So there's the obvious:


muscle cramping and discomfort from swimming with a monofin. We've talked about this to death on the forum, but the only way of really coping with it is to eat and drink properly, enjoy potassium and magnesium, stay hydrated, and prevent foot blisters with either tape or booties or half booties. See more on my thread about blisters (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?6386-How-you-can-deal-with-monofin-blisters).
Chlorine: again, something we've spoken about a lot on the forum, there's a whole thread about how to deal with it from your head to your toe to your tails, here. (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4402-How-to-deal-with-chlorine-s-negative-effects)
Drowning: Yup, that shit happens! Please don't be the first mermaid to drown in your tail, we will be all screwed. Learn the signs here (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?5251-Drowning-The-real-signs-you-need-to-know). Also, no running on the pool deck ;)
Back injuries: more so happen to the merwranglers and mertenders. If it can be helped, DO NOT BEND OVER TO PICK UP A MERMAID. Do not twist! And be sure to lift with your legs. If a mermaid can get herself onto something so they aren't on the floor, or if they can temporarily stand in their tail for the person to pick them up, this is safer for all involved and will prevent back injury.


Then there's the not so obvious, all of which I've experienced:

Ear infections: frequent exposure to water can cause ear infections! You can avoid them by wearing ear plugs (I wear clear malleable silicone (http://www.sportchek.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=3822824&gclid=CKPvvZCqjbwCFcI-Mgod0xYAcg)and it works great and I NEVER have a problem with kids noticing. I don't swim that deep during parties, so they're perfect.) You can also do preventative care by putting a drop or two of ear drops before and after in your ears. (coming right from my doctor, and yes I do it ever time!) If you get an ear infection, don't go swimming again! Take ibuprofine or tylenol to help with pain. You can get antibiotic drops over the counter. You may need to see your doc and get oral antibiotics. They tend to clear up quickly if you don't have other ear problems or health problems.
Sinus Infections and Nasal Drip: if this is a reoccurring problem for you, you may need to approach your doctor about specific prescription nasal spray or pills. And I hate to say it, you might get stuck with a nose plug. For preventative care, plug your nose when you dive down or go under. Even if you just hold it for the first few seconds when you go under, when you let go, the pressure will keep water out. That's what I do, and it is rarely a problem. Noses tend to become problems when you do backflips, and go deep enough to require equalization. I have found using Sinu Rins (http://www.neilmed.com/can/index.php)e before/after gigs to really help prevent both nose and ear infections. It's not for everyone but it helps. If you get a sinus infection or bad drip, see your doctor you may require a prescription.
Fungal Infections/Warts etc: dirty pools! Ew! Bring flip flops or shoes if you're allowed onto the pool deck and minimize your contact with the pool deck directly on your skin when possible. Lay out a mat or tail when you're getting ready, and shower before/after AT HOME. Putting coconut oil on your skin will not only help prevent chlorine burn but provides a temporary barrier as well until you're submerged for a while. If you get a fungal infection or wart there are many over the counter treatments and doctor treatments available. Once after walking for about 5 seconds on dirty pool deck after a gig, I got a pain in my foot. that little pain turned into a bad wart (ew!). I went to the doc and while she gave me treatments they weren't really working. So one day she wrapped my foot in hockey tape and told me not to take that off for 2 weeks, it should suffocate it and kill it. It totally did! I occasionally now after so much exposure to pool decks will get the startings of a wart. I put the hockey tape on, and BAM that stuff is gone. Hockey tape: our solution to everything in Canada.
Conjunctivitis/Eye infections/Pink Eye: I did a lot of research on this including speaking with an optometrist. The burning you get in your eyes when you're in chlorine? It's not just chemicals, it's literally because your eyes are fighting infection the whole time. Sometimes, contacts can lessen that (or in very rare cases, make it worse. So be sure to talk to your doc before swimming with contacts)Preventative care is obvious but not always doable when you're a mermaid: don't open your eyes underwater. But hey, we're mermaids, we need to! So, use a moisturizing eye drops several times before going into the pool. When you get out, if you can, do a saline flush or an eyewash. After that, it's 100% okay to put anti-bacterial/viral eye drops in your eyes. We're taught that we should use them sparingly but in an instance like this I have both been told and read on official websites that you can use them to prevent the conjunctivitis. They warn people not to use it too much BECAUSE people often use it when they don't need it. but if you've been in a chlorine pool your eyes ARE fighting it. So give them a boost with a drop or two of over the counter pink eye meds. A drop or two after each gig won't hurt you, and it'll save your eyes.
Cryptosporidium: now we get to the illness that prompted me to write this because I am experiencing it right now. ugh. Shortened to crypto. It's a parasite! It happens when kids have diarrhea in the pool ew and the pool doesn't properly clean/shut down the pool! In order to kill it, the pool must be sanitized for 12 hours without anyone else coming in. This buy can live in pools for 2-3 weeks if not treated properly. Rec and Sport pools tend to be killer at killing this, but hotel pools, not so much. And lemme tell you, you don't want this bug. The only way to get it is to drink contaminated water or swim in a pool with it. Preventative: don't swim in dirty pools, lol and don't drink the water. Sometimes you can't help it. Pools aren't honest with you (what just happened to me!) or they have someone cleaning the pool who doesn't know what they're doing (happens a lot!) and you just don't know. If you get stuck with it, it can feel a lot like the stomach flu and you treat it the same way. For more info go to the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/).


These are the main health risks you take when you perform/do an event in a public pool! So keep it safe swimming my fishies!

[AniaR]

^ was my 6000 post! Yay. Also, I put in paragraphs and they didn't work. Hopefully a mod can fix that for me. :/

[PearlieMae]

Ouch! Too bad hockey tape can't fix that!

Feel better soon, SuperMerWoman! :thumbs-up:

[MerEmma]

The post formatting looks good to me already~ Great post, very informative. Pools are kind of scary without goggles actually. o_o

[deepblue]

Another great post to bookmark for future reference. Also: omg, I'm sorry you're dealing with what sounds like a really horrible very bad illness. Ick!

Very interesting info about the eyes burning. I hadn't thought of the idea that they're basically fighting the entire time with the environment, but it makes sense. Too bad we don't come with nifty secondary eyelids to take care of that (and the blur!) issue.

[Jessica]

Awesome info Raina!! Thanks so much! I hope you're feeling better soon! Cryptosporidium (and giardia too) are also found in lakes/streams/rivers....so we really need to be careful everywhere! I wonder if giardia can be found in pools too?

warts from pools! Yuck! I had no idea!! You Canadians and your hockey! ;) I'm glad you found a solution that works!


I wear contacts and have had my fair share of eye infections. This stuff works GREAT for clearing viral conjunctivitius/preventing eye infections and is about $8 in the us:

[Mary Marine]

Thanks for the info! Looks like I'll be buying some silicone ear plugs, ear drops, and eye drops to add to the mermaid kit.

[MermaidHyli]

Cryptosporidium= why I don't swim in most public pools outside of doing gigs. (even when doing gigs I usually request to look at the log sheet of when the chemicals were last done.) I was a lifeguard for 6 years and after working around public pools, nope nope nope. I won't even touch water parks. I understand they can be cleaned but seriously the amount of chemical toxins that go into making a pool clean after an 'accident' is just not something I would want to swim in. I've been at pools where it happens, they treat the pool and only close off that side of the pool *facepalm* If an accident happened then the pool should be shut down for 24 hrs max to be sure that the pool is treated and back to normal levels. I've watched the lifeguards or pool management not even do the hourly chemical tests that are required by the law and just make it up. So sometimes you don't even know when the chemicals were last checked or changed. ew ew ew ew sorry, kind of a germaphobe when it comes to public pools

[Echidna]

Cryptosporidium= why I don't swim in most public pools outside of doing gigs.

it's a nasty bugger, I think last time I went swimming I might have picked it up
(have had light fever, nausea, cramps and vertigo since then. some of those things I have on a regular basis, so it's hard to say), there's always parents lugging around their toddlers into the deeper pools :/

sadly, there's no option to swim elsewhere for me than public pools.
even if lakes & rivers weren't ice cold, they're just gross, and swimming in rivers is prohibited by law since they're full of Giardia and other parasites :mad:

[Merman Dan]

Not to mention:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri-UE0pEomA

(EDIT: I am NOT responsible for the still image they chose to use for the video ;) )

[Mermaid Adriel]

Thank you for these precious advices, Raina :)

[Echidna]

I am NOT responsible for the still image they chose to use for the video ;) )

oh you :lol:

tell you what.
I'd take a shark over toddlers and micro parasites everyday!

[AniaR]

Cryptosporidium= why I don't swim in most public pools outside of doing gigs. (even when doing gigs I usually request to look at the log sheet of when the chemicals were last done.) I was a lifeguard for 6 years and after working around public pools, nope nope nope. I won't even touch water parks. I understand they can be cleaned but seriously the amount of chemical toxins that go into making a pool clean after an 'accident' is just not something I would want to swim in. I've been at pools where it happens, they treat the pool and only close off that side of the pool *facepalm* If an accident happened then the pool should be shut down for 24 hrs max to be sure that the pool is treated and back to normal levels. I've watched the lifeguards or pool management not even do the hourly chemical tests that are required by the law and just make it up. So sometimes you don't even know when the chemicals were last checked or changed. ew ew ew ew sorry, kind of a germaphobe when it comes to public pools

Totally. the pools I generally work at are amazing. this one pool I did yesterday was a hotel pool I typically avoid, but I had a situation where another pool cancelled on my re-occuring client , and th ehotel took her last minute. I sort of felt obligated. :/ since we're friends with THE chemical supplier for the whole city, he's always telling me which pools to black list and which pools are on the ball. Some he personally does. But yeah this one the second he saw I was sick he got a hold of me and was like CALL AND COMPLAIN SO HE GETS FIRED AND I CAN GO FIX IT. lol

[deepblue]

Every pro mer needs to be friends with that guy or gal in their town! lol

[Mizuko]

Thank you so much for this info!
I have sensitive eyes, but chlorine KILLS them. Within 20 mins I have red eyes and white vision! I much prefer the ocean, I dont get any irritation there. Its tough when kids want to "see you breathe underwater", which normally means they want to put goggles on and watch you blink/interact with them underwater. My eyes burn terribly but I have to stay in character. I use eye-drops afterwards but it doesn't always help: I'm going to invest in all the products you've suggested! haha!
As for crypto, I am so sorry you caught it! I'm lucky that the pools I train in dont allow children under 8 years to swim, because its too deep (8+ feet), so training I have no issues with. But parties so far I've been lucky! Lets hope I stay lucky! haha!

[Echidna]

I'm lucky that the pools I train in dont allow children under 8 years to swim, because its too deep (8+ feet), so training I have no issues with.

OMG IMMA JELLYFISH SO JELLY lol!

No chance to find something like that in Europe, ever. They wuv their kiddos.

You will be yelled at by parents (with loudly squealing children) in the "Peace & Quiet"-Area if you calmly ask them whether they've overlooked all the giant "PLEASE BE QUIET IN THIS AREA"-signs around the pool :p

[Aino Revontuletar]

Yuuuuck. Pools are so gross. These days I only swim in the ocean pools because I am paranoid about my hair getting damaged from chlorine, but I guess they aren't any better when it comes to this sort of stuff. I think I may have picked up a sinus infection from when I last went swimming a few days ago :(

[Mermaid Danielle]

Thanks for the information, Raina. I'm sorry you caught it, that sounds terrible.

On another note, I think I might try that tape trick. I've had a small group of plantar warts on my big toe for the past few months now, and just can't get rid of them! They are driving me crazy! I've tried digging them out (which worked when I got them on my fingers), but it only made them worse. I tried putting hydrogen peroxide on them after showering (since the skin is softer and more exposed), but that didn't work either (even after doing it routinely). Heck, even today I tried dish soap! Hopefully that'll work, but if it doesn't, I'm definitely trying the tape.

Let me just say, I HATE dorm room bathrooms. It's where I picked up the warts from both times. I sanitized everything in my room, when I got them on my fingers. And I know exactly when I got it on my foot! My big toes slipped off my flip-flop, for maybe two seconds while I was showering, and I still got them even after cleaning it off!

Sorry for the rant... like I said they're driving me crazy.

Anyways, thanks again for the info. I'm sure it will be very helpful to many. Hope you feel better soon!

[AniaR]

you gotta leave the hockey tape on for 2 weeks then try.

[AnnaAbyss]

This was really good information. Thanks Raina.~
Gah I wish I had my own pool at home so I wouldn't have to put up with screaming kids and their germs.
All the more reason to swim in the ocean. ^.^

[Maclanahan]

All of it is excellent information and I don't say that because I have suffered from almost all of the things mentioned, however when I reached the part about Crypto, all I could think of was this:
17597
and
17598

[AniaR]

Bazinga. Lol

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[Winged Mermaid]

Bumping this thread to bring up something important: If you are having visual disturbances for more than 3 hours after you're done in the pool, go to the doctor. I recently had this happen to me, where I was having blurry and hazy vision, as well as everything that emitted or reflected light glowed brightly and gave of a strong huge rainbow aura. I could hardly see. I was warned by another mermaid if it lasted more than 3 hours to call the doctor. I called my doctor (he was on call for phone consultations that night thankfully) and explained and he said I needed to go to the ER.

In the ER I had my eyes properly looked at (they used dye and the eye microscope and all that). Thankfully no permanent damage, but my eyes had been chemically burned- it was inflaming my eye and especially my cornea, and putting pressure on things that it shouldn't. The doctor said it was right for me to come in, as that could lead to more serious complications if left alone. He gave me anti inflammatory drops to use for several days 4 times a day, and told me to watch closely for signs of infection and/or conjunctivitis. He gave me an antibiotic prescription script just in case, so I could fill the prescription if i needed to.

He said the pool chemicals must have been unsafely out of balance to cause this, especially since I used the Gen-Teal protective gel before hand and used eye rinse while swimming and did the eye wash (with the cup) with the eye rinse after several times and they were still clearly chemically burned. I went the next day and talked to the manager of the pool about it. The drops helped with the blurriness, but the haze and glowing + auras stayed as strong as when I first got them 9 1/2 hours after (until I went to sleep).

TLDR: It can be normal to have blurry vision and see auras around lights for an hour or two after you go swimming in a chlorinated pool for a long time. But if it lasts for more than 3 hours go to your doctor, urgent care, or the ER. That is not normal, and you could be putting your eye sight at risk! You only have ONE pair of eyes- take care of them! If in doubt about your insurance, look at their policy for emergency care. A lot of them specify that if you are at risk to loss of life, limb, or sight, your care will be covered.

[AniaR]

thank you Iona I never considered that. I had that experience once before but I never thought of going to ER.

[deepblue]

Really good to know... I'm hoping to join the Y soon, and use their pools. I would have thought it was more migraine stuff happening. lol and eek.

When I toured their facilities, and walked into the pool house, I had to say, "Holy chlorine, Batman." Because WOW. So yes, good to know.

[Mermaid Catkid]

EWW! When I was younger I would go to our schools summer time kid care thingy (i dont know what to call it). Well in Tiger Club (its name) we would visit a pool 2 days out of five. About 60 we every time. I can remember 3 separate times kids pooped in the pool. All the life guard did was gwt us out put so stuff in the water and let us in after a while. gross.

[Theobromine]

Iona, what did the pool manager say when you talked to him about it? My eyes felt like potato chips all day on Friday, even after the redness went away.

Also, another safety note: make sure you have someone to drive you home safely from the pool in case your eyes get messed up. Make sure this person is not a person who tends to fall asleep in the car after 11 pm, leaving you to have to drive yourself home with your blurry vision :P :P

[Winged Mermaid]

Well, I talked to the manager of the apartment complex and told them they really needed to talk to their pool guy about it, and that it was a serious health risk. They said they'd check in with him, and that he's supposed to take levels every morning for the pool. But I know from other people that crappy pool guys just make up the numbers for logs, so hopefully they'll get on his case since the levels clearly were not okay at all. I drove the point home by telling them you know, thank god I had insurance that would cover it or they could find themselves in trouble. Hopefully that made them really listen- last thing anyone wants is a lawsuit or having to pay for someone else's medical bills.

Yeah, my eyes hurt for a few days after, but I had the drops to relieve it. If I forgot to use my drops my eyes reminded me :P

[Theobromine]

I drove the point home by telling them you know, thank god I had insurance that would cover it or they could find themselves in trouble. Hopefully that made them really listen- last thing anyone wants is a lawsuit or having to pay for someone else's medical bills.

That's a most excellent point.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

My last swim in the leisure pool, I was showing my nephew how to swim, I was careful not to open my mouth underwater, but one can only do so much when watching a kid, who makes swimming motions like a panicked and drowning person.

And to that, I was explaining things to him, so I must have drank some water, even by accident! The next day, I had a huge blister in my mouth just under the gum line and over the next few days it got infected, and I had to take care of it myself. Which involved much draining and cotton wool.

After that, I never swam in it again. It has been ok on other times I've been in it, but just that day, it put me off entirely. I have since started swimming in the 50 m pool instead. It seems much cleaner and I haven't had any infections from it.

So don't go into the heated pools, that's where bacteria thrives. And if you have to go, make sure you don't have any cuts cos they'll get infected. My gum isn't cut, it was something that just happened from swimming in the hot water pool. I really don't know how to explain it!

[BlueMermaid]

Wow. Scary stuff! I have had my eyes burn so bad I couldn't open them for over 3 hours, and sinus irritation almost every time I swim. Thankfully it always clears up on its own. After my last swim I've been having some dizziness. It's not an easy job!

[AniaR]

I'd written about this previously in another thread but I thought I'd add it here as well.

Most women experience a yeast infection, and they're often brought on if you spend a lot of time in the water. Chlorinated pools upset the natural PH of women. Being a mermaid can be tricky as it increases your risk, but also if you're someone who already is prone to them. Here's a few tips:

Take high count probiotics. You can get them from the pharmacy, simply eating yogurt isn't enough. If you can take them for a few days before and after they'll help a lot.

Try not to stay in a wet bathing suit in a wet tail. If you can't help it, you can use a cream like canasten or an anti-fungal ointment (an ointment is likelier to last through the water) to prevent (it's okay once in a while especially if you're someone who is prone, my gyno says so lol)

Some women find putting drops of antifungal extracts like sage or tea tree oil help, in your bathing suit bottom as soon as you get out of the water.

If you do get those awful symptoms before you see your doc right away. Sometimes we also get other infections, that aren't yeast, and yeast meds wont do anything. So be sure you get a swab to be sure.

[Winged Mermaid]

Also if you feel a little bit of an itch like you might be getting one, washes specifically for that area (like summer's eve wash- get the sensitive kind, without a scent) can help as they're meant to balance out PH. This is only for external use just to be clear, but it does help. Regular body wash can actually make things worse. Wash with a clean hand or fresh washcloth, as used washcloths and loofahs harbor bacteria that can aggravate things.

I've cured less severe ones with drops of high quality melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil on a panty liner. Just 1 or two drops (really, that's all you need!) on center of the liner while it' still on the packaging, then fold it back in on itself and rub the wings a bit to disperse it on the rest. Put in your undies like you would normally, wear it through the day. Melaleuca won't kill the BB (beneficial bacteria) but will kill the fungus and bad bacteria. I only use the highest quality essential oils though (from doTERRA, safe enough to be used internally) - you can buy it here (direct from doTERRA) (https://nettrax.myvoffice.com/doterra/ShoppingCart/Shop.cfm?CurrPage=FrontPage&NextPage=CategoryDetail&CategoryID=78&PageNum=2)or here (Amazon) (http://www.amazon.com/doTERRA-Melaleuca-15-ml/dp/B004O290TW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395805305&sr=8-1&keywords=doterra+melaleuca+oil). In my opinion, worth every penny. A LOT of essential oil brands aren't pure at all- they can say 100% and put one drop of crappy grade EO in the whole bottle and the rest with fillers and still say "100% pure essential oil" on the label, legally. People have gotten chemical burns from applying these fake essential oils to their skin. I did my research, lots of it, and I trust doTERRA brand 100%. You can actually swallow this oil for treatment, but it tastes terrible, and going straight to the source does better IMO.

[BlueMermaid]

I already stuggle with this problem due to my chronic illness but I know swimming doesn't help. I usually use the store bought meds, but I do use Doterra for other things, so I think I will try this next time. Thanks for sharing this info!


Also if you feel a little bit of an itch like you might be getting one, washes specifically for that area (like summer's eve wash- get the sensitive kind, without a scent) can help as they're meant to balance out PH. This is only for external use just to be clear, but it does help. Regular body wash can actually make things worse. Wash with a clean hand or fresh washcloth, as used washcloths and loofahs harbor bacteria that can aggravate things.

I've cured less severe ones with drops of high quality melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil on a panty liner. Just 1 or two drops (really, that's all you need!) on center of the liner while it' still on the packaging, then fold it back in on itself and rub the wings a bit to disperse it on the rest. Put in your undies like you would normally, wear it through the day. Melaleuca won't kill the BB (beneficial bacteria) but will kill the fungus and bad bacteria. I only use the highest quality essential oils though (from doTERRA, safe enough to be used internally) - you can buy it here (direct from doTERRA) (https://nettrax.myvoffice.com/doterra/ShoppingCart/Shop.cfm?CurrPage=FrontPage&NextPage=CategoryDetail&CategoryID=78&PageNum=2)or here (Amazon) (http://www.amazon.com/doTERRA-Melaleuca-15-ml/dp/B004O290TW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395805305&sr=8-1&keywords=doterra+melaleuca+oil). In my opinion, worth every penny. A LOT of essential oil brands aren't pure at all- they can say 100% and put one drop of crappy grade EO in the whole bottle and the rest with fillers and still say "100% pure essential oil" on the label, legally. People have gotten chemical burns from applying these fake essential oils to their skin. I did my research, lots of it, and I trust doTERRA brand 100%. You can actually swallow this oil for treatment, but it tastes terrible, and going straight to the source does better IMO.

[Winged Mermaid]

Sure thing! I LOVE my oils! I use on guard all the time too, so I don't catch bugs, especially for kids parties! I could go on and on, but trying to keep it on topic ;)

[MermaidMichelle]

As one who was a lifeguard for nine years, I should probably offer my own two sardines. Raina covers most of the major things, but I can offer at least one more specific piece of advice.

Pools generally come in two different types. Most common are "tank" pools, so named not because they have a fish tank (sadly) but because they have one rectangular (usually laned) pool. The others are "leisure" pools and/or aquatics centres; they are the ones with different-sized pools for adults and children, hot tubs, giant slides, etc.. For much of my lifeguarding career I worked in two different leisure pools in the Scarborough district of Toronto: Agincourt and Birchmount. In both of these pools the chlorine level was significantly higher than in any tank pool, and we lifeguards were often told to monitor the blue warning light to ensure it did not reach dangerous levels. If/when you work in a leisure pool, be careful, take precautions, and be sure to know where the eye wash stations are (though it might be difficult to reach them as a mermaid!) :mermaid kiss:

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hmm. There is no eye wash stations where I swim! Its like the one you described, except its got two pools. And they're not very big, though sometimes the water in the leisure pool is like a hot bath.

I wear goggles though, will it still affect me?

[AniaR]

By law there are eye wash stations as part of regulation they are just typically behind the scenes. They are required in any place that houses chemicals. You'd have to ask to use it.

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[Kishiko]

WHOA RAINA NEW AVATAR!!!!! :lol:

[AniaR]

Did it work? Lol I kept getting error messages maybe Iona fixed it

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[Kishiko]

Yup it's all new and shiny! It confused me at first lol :p

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I use Thursday Plantation Feminine Cream, sometimes the wash, depends which one of them I can find at the shops first.

Its gentle, soothing, doesn't smell too strange. Since starting swimming, I find I am more prone to the itchy dance...

http://www.amazon.com/Tree-Feminine-Cream-Thursday-Plantation/dp/B007ZR4WFK
http://www.amazon.com/Thursday-Plantation-Tree-Feminine-Wash/dp/B00I9GX8OC/ref=sr_1_5?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1397228820&sr=1-5&keywords=thursday+plantation+feminine+wash

[AniaR]

The itchy dance lol.

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[Echidna]

I really should stop reading this thread, or I won't dare to ever swim again :jawdrop:

because of my rheumatism and polyarthritis, I enjoy swimming in the warmer leisure pools
(more precisely, if I spend too much time in the cooler tank pools, I get lots of pain problems and inflammations), problem is that opposed to, say, thermal baths where small children are prohibited, in my local pool all leisure pools, including the thermal relaxation quiet area, are filled with infants and children.

The guards are exremely lazy and inattentive.
There have been hundreds of almost-accidents due to teens and kids jumping in from the sides instead of using the stairs/ladders (which is forbidden by the rules), but no one has ever said anything to the offenders.

I've never seen a pool technician guy there either, it's the guards that take samples once per day or so.
I'm really not sure whether I can risk swimming in such a thermal pool when infants are allowed in :(

[MermaidMichelle]

The situation you described is fairly standard for leisure pools; we each rotated between about seven stations and tended to lifeguard only our own. I was considered the swiftest to spot any potentially-dangerous situation (even outside my immediate area), and while I'm glad that we didn't have such rules regarding jumping (as opposed to diving) into pools, I do recall one potential "spinal" (broken neck/back) suffered by a child 15 minutes before closing time...and the nearby lifeguard hadn't even noticed it until I pointed it out.

If the thermal pool of your leisure pool is large enough to allow half-lane swimming, you might be able to swim therein, but if you are using a tail/monofin you should ask the lifeguards to cordon off an area for you. Good luck! :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

The itchy dance lol.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/crotch_itchy_bobs_burgers.gif

[Rogue Siren]

They make chlorine test strips don't they? It would be great to bring them with you everytime you go the pool, that way you know the pool guy is doing their job! So if there is too much chlorine you know about it, and can possibly say something.

[AniaR]

I have picked up 8 kids in the process of drowning from the bottom of pools right in front of lifeguards :(

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[Winged Mermaid]

They make chlorine test strips don't they? It would be great to bring them with you everytime you go the pool, that way you know the pool guy is doing their job! So if there is too much chlorine you know about it, and can possibly say something.

Was thinking of doing this, especially after the chemically burned eyes incident.

[Echidna]

I have picked up 8 kids in the process of drowning from the bottom of pools right in front of lifeguards :(

I'm not surprised :thumbdown:

I've spent several minutes underwater lying on the bottom (not moving), and no guard showed their face.
If I should ever suffer a blackout, I'd be dead before anyone would even notice :p

but like Michelle said; injuries from people jumping into pools (and when I say "jumping", I mean diving in from above without looking whether someone's down there where they will land) is another significant health risk when swimming in pools!

while I'm worried about Crypto & Co in the warm pools, an injury from someone leaping in or smashing their heel down into my face while I try to pass by under them is far more probable.

[AniaR]

I have cracked my head bad swimming and it is terrifying.

[MermaidMichelle]

I have picked up 8 kids in the process of drowning from the bottom of pools right in front of lifeguards :(

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I assume you didn't mean simultaneously, but with some life guards I have known even that​ wouldn't surprise me....

[AniaR]

I've picked up two at once. By the time I had gone down, picked up both kids on each hip, and put them up on the side of the pool, the lifegaurd just jumped in. One had fallen into the pool and the other jumped in to save him but the kid was too heavy and they both sunk. Both 5 years old. :( they were okay but 1 was quite traumatized.

[MermaidMichelle]

I keep wanting to picture you having done that in your tail...lol :mermaid kiss: That seems fairly standard reaction time for the average life guard; how long would you estimate that the first kid was under water?

[Echidna]

Every pool should by law be required to occupy a mermaid :p

waaay better than sloppy guards sitting in their lil' glass cabin twiddling thumbs.

[AniaR]

I did do it all in my tail lol

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[ShyMer]

Mermaids to the rescue!

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[Ayla of Duluth]

I know during my last gig, there were maybe 20-30 kids, and I was doing just fine until the very end when I went to save one who accidentally went under the water. When I lifted them up, they coughed all that water and spit right into my face. I was sick for like a month after that. I have to figure out how to combat little kid germs because they always seem to get me sick, and I can't do sinus rinses. (tried it once, it was awful.) :P

[MermaidMichelle]

I did do it all in my tail lol

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I must admit, I had a feeling that was the case. At least now I know that I would have spotted the kids in time; I would have jumped​ at the chance to life guard a mermaid! :mermaid kiss:

[Echidna]

I was sick for like a month after that. I have to figure out how to combat little kid germs

that's why I try to keep distance to small kids by default, and anyone who is coughing, sneezing, or blowing snot into the water.
did you know an adult's cough/sneeze range distributes germs in an 8 meter radius? :p

it's just tricky if the whole pool is full of such lovable creatures (the guys picking nose and then dropping the loot into pool are also one of my favourites).
or if you have a gig of course.

[MermaidMichelle]

You have, by the way, just explained why the chlorine level in Leisure Pools is so high.... :shark:

[Anahita]

I've picked up two at once. By the time I had gone down, picked up both kids on each hip, and put them up on the side of the pool, the lifegaurd just jumped in. One had fallen into the pool and the other jumped in to save him but the kid was too heavy and they both sunk. Both 5 years old. :( they were okay but 1 was quite traumatized.

Scary...

But those kids are always going to have a really special memory of a mermaid saving them from drowning. So it definitely worked out the best possible way a situation like that could have.

[AniaR]

it's not like the movies :( the only people who tend to even being paying attention and see the fact I've picked up a kid most of the time is Sean. Sean is always paying attention way more than the parents and lifeguards. At a wedding a little boy walked past the very steep drop off. He couldn't swim, and he went down like a rock. I had a kid on my back and couldnt get to him fast enough or get the kid off me fast enough. I screamed Sean's name and he was in that pool in a split second. The kid was 4. When Sean pulled him up from the bottom of the 9 foot deep pool he was vomiting water. Mom and Dad were having drinks, baby at their feet eating rocks, and when he brought them the kid who was shaking with blue lips, they laughed it off and said he probably wasnt paying attention and freaks out all the time. I was so angry I flagged down the bride and explained the situation to her.

It actually stresses me out a lot. :( it's not my responsability but I get over anxious when I realize parents and lifeguards aren't paying attention because it has happened so many times. I did a gig recently in a really deep pool where the lifeguards werent paying attention at all and doing some sort of training thing. The parents spoke very little English and didnt have their kids in life jackets. There was no shallow end, and kids would swim out too far and get tired. I think I spent the whole damn gig just dragging them all back before they could go under. It's hard on the nerves.

I try to be extremely clear about that stuff when people book me, but sadly cellphones seem more important than watching children :(

[Mermaid Jaffa]

that's why I try to keep distance to small kids by default, and anyone who is coughing, sneezing, or blowing snot into the water.
did you know an adult's cough/sneeze range distributes germs in an 8 meter radius? :p

it's just tricky if the whole pool is full of such lovable creatures (the guys picking nose and then dropping the loot into pool are also one of my favourites).
or if you have a gig of course.

EWWWW!​

[Echidna]

sorry!
I'm also curious whether people in different countries are just as disgusting when visiting pools, or if it's a German thing.
I also see many who won't shower. The guards don't care about that either.

In Iceland for example, you'd get an earful and possibly thrown out if you tried some of the stuff people here do unabashedly on a daily basis.



sadly cellphones seem more important than watching children :(
imo, such parents shouldn't have children.

but it's not surprising considered what kind of reasons people have children for.
(one of the most often cited reasons women give is "coz I want to have bigger boobs for a while", go figure.)

[MermaidMichelle]

I want to avoid the pridefulness of apparently being one of the only life guards who paid attention to everything, so I shall instead offer a small word of defense for those whom I am fairly certain are in fact inattentive and all-too-average life guards.

In that situation Raina described, an in-the-water perspective would have been better for noticing a submerged child than the life guard's out-of-water experience. However, that still would not fully explain how Sean was able to spot the child so easily (not to mention the fact that Raina was obviously preoccupied at the time)!

As for cell/mobile phones, I don't care much for them and have never owned one. I'm making myself sound old (in reality I'm two years too old to be a Millennial), but I'm glad I did at least a few of my nine years of life guarding at a time before such gadgets became ubiquitous. We live in a world of escapist distraction, but those who cannot spend a sufficient amount of time in reality should not take such life-changing real-world steps as having a child!

[Mermaid Danielle]

it's not like the movies :( the only people who tend to even being paying attention and see the fact I've picked up a kid most of the time is Sean. Sean is always paying attention way more than the parents and lifeguards. At a wedding a little boy walked past the very steep drop off. He couldn't swim, and he went down like a rock. I had a kid on my back and couldnt get to him fast enough or get the kid off me fast enough. I screamed Sean's name and he was in that pool in a split second. The kid was 4. When Sean pulled him up from the bottom of the 9 foot deep pool he was vomiting water. Mom and Dad were having drinks, baby at their feet eating rocks, and when he brought them the kid who was shaking with blue lips, they laughed it off and said he probably wasnt paying attention and freaks out all the time. I was so angry I flagged down the bride and explained the situation to her.

It actually stresses me out a lot. :( it's not my responsability but I get over anxious when I realize parents and lifeguards aren't paying attention because it has happened so many times. I did a gig recently in a really deep pool where the lifeguards werent paying attention at all and doing some sort of training thing. The parents spoke very little English and didnt have their kids in life jackets. There was no shallow end, and kids would swim out too far and get tired. I think I spent the whole damn gig just dragging them all back before they could go under. It's hard on the nerves.

I try to be extremely clear about that stuff when people book me, but sadly cellphones seem more important than watching children :(

That is horrifying! Part of my contract with the adults, depending on the age of the children, requires them to be in the water with the kids during the event. In the contract they sign, it says that if I ever feel the kids are unsafe in the water, or the requested number of adults are not in the pool with the kids, then I (regardless of how far I am into the performance) have the right to leave the water and/or end the event if I feel it is necessary, with refund left to my discretion. My thinking with it was that at the very least me leaving the water would attract the kids attention (and hopefully the parents) and draw the kids back to the edge of the pool where they could hold on to the wall. Maybe you could try something like that in the future?

[AniaR]

Yes I built that into my contract too but we have a hard time enforcing it. I'm open to tips lol

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[Mermaid Danielle]

Yes I built that into my contract too but we have a hard time enforcing it. I'm open to tips lol

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I'm not sure how long your contract is, but do you review it in full with the customer, in person, before the event? When I met with my last client, I reviewed everything in my contract with her. I strongly stressed parent participation while arranging the event with her online, and then again in person. It seemed to have helped. She was in the water the entire time, and within arms reach of her three year old the entire hour.

Another factor that I think helped was that I require my customers to pay in full *before* starting the event, with the understanding that after signing the contract and receiving the payment, everything is final and if they do not comply to the contract, I can end the event without refund.

I have no idea how that will affect me from a business standpoint, since I'm still getting started, but it covers me and my aid and helps us work around a potentially very dangerous situation.

[MermaidMichelle]

I can't say how that will affect your business, for I am taking Raven's advice and awaiting a tail before I take any business, but as a (former) life guard I can say that your precautions are both wise and necessary! :mermaid kiss:

[AniaR]

Its great in theory but I couldn't possibly meet with every client beforehand and when I yell at them from the pool they can't even hear me and hard to threaten lol. Then again I've been at this for a super long time so more opportunities for problems! So it seems like a lot but in retrospect many happened earlier on.

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[Mermaid Raena]

i went on vacation to Cabana Bay Beach resort at Universal in Florida. I was basically harrassed for even ASKING if they minded if i put my tail on in an EMPTY pool to practice and see if my sister could take a few photos to see how it looked. I then taped my legs together to tick them off and still practice a bit and proceeded to swim and try to imagine the tail on.... didnt work but i proved i was a very capable and fast swimmer. plus i'm vindictive and might've given a bit of extra "kick" as i went under and soaked the lifeguard who was rude to me.. *looks innocent* after that swim... i came up physically sick for the rest of vacation, and had heat stroke TWICE in two days.... i'm still recovering from the side effects of that vacation.... idk what was with that pool, but within a few hours i had to call housekeeping to clean my bathroom because i had gotten sick all over, and then i did the same in the park later that day...... Just a word of warning. it might be "pretty" but cabana bay is not mermaid or health friendly.

[Echidna]

Pools in hot countries take extra care and measures to remain sanitized.
I don't trust hotel pools, any pools that smell, and pools that look as if they aren't much in use.

If in doubt, you could try and get a look at the chemical sheets they should keep.
If they refuse you, that's a big warning sign.

[TritonsGuard]

Don't know if anyone put this out, but after it rains, you should not swim in the ocean for at least a few days, especially if you do so near a river. When it rains, the rivers and creaks fill up and carry everything that has been in it for weeks or months out to sea. That includes garbage and rotting dead plants and animals. This stuff stays around for a few days before it clears up. Same thing probably applies to lakes, so it's a good idea to stay out of them as well. Surfers learned this tip a few decades ago when they noticed a lot of them got sick after storms.

[Mermaid Raena]

Don't know if anyone put this out, but after it rains, you should not swim in the ocean for at least a few days, especially if you do so near a river. When it rains, the rivers and creaks fill up and carry everything that has been in it for weeks or months out to sea. That includes garbage and rotting dead plants and animals. This stuff stays around for a few days before it clears up. Same thing probably applies to lakes, so it's a good idea to stay out of them as well. Surfers learned this tip a few decades ago when they noticed a lot of them got sick after storms.
totally true! especially in hawaii. look to the locals before you go in the water, dont follow the tourists. if you wonder why north shore is empty, chances are, theres a reason.... also. beware of ticking off sea urchins. they like shallower waters just after a rain.....the 12 barbs in my foot are living proof.

[AniaR]

One I talked about in my second book but forgot to put here (another mer just reminded me) is hot tub folliculitis. We call it "swamp bum"

basically sitting in a wet tail too long breeds bacteria which can give you a painful rash in the areas that are tight and on your butt. Usually need a lotion to clear it up if you're unable to clear it up on your own.

I found using the lysol wipes on the tail and trying to dry the inside of my tail while still wearing it before doing the out of pool portion of a party helped cut down on how much it happened to me.It happens to me less with a looser tail too

[Rymisky]

I've experienced ear infections and chlorine sensitivity from swimming regularly.

[Nate]

Chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation, and swallowing pool water may lead to stomach issues. Additionally, long periods in a mermaid tail can restrict movement and cause muscle strain. Always ensure proper hygiene and safety measures to minimize these risks. Also pools is always a slippery place so it is wise to have a good injury lawyer https://www.bergellaw.com/personal-injury-lawyers/oshawa-accident/ in order to have a compensation after fall accident or another one.

[zonnenmart]

I was more concerned about a tile slip accident in the swimming pool. My friend used a monofin and didn't calculate the distance right. She is a novice swimmer. The pool is very deep, so she slipped and got injured. I found here (https://388ceda.com/locations/) the locations where and how to calculate proper medical expenses and get all the needed help in her case.

[jokeco]

Mermaiding became my passion last summer. I loved the magical feeling of gliding through the water, but I wasn’t prepared for the health risks lurking beneath the surface. After a few sessions in public pools, I started experiencing skin irritation and noticed an odd cough that wouldn’t go away. I later learned that pool chemicals, like chlorine, can cause respiratory and skin issues, especially during prolonged exposure. Tight mermaid tails can also limit mobility, increasing the risk of muscle strain or accidents. Staying hydrated and cleaning your gear thoroughly after each use helps, but it’s crucial to prioritize safety over fun. If you’re passionate about unique hobbies, balance is key—whether mermaiding or pursuing beauty courses online (https://www.naturopathytouch.com/1st-official-dubai-beauty-academy/) for creative growth. Enjoy the journey, but always stay mindful of the risks involved!