Now that summer break is here, parents are
faced with the annual summer-activity-dilemma. There’s no better way to spend a
hot summer day in a pool. As founder & president of AquaMobile
Swim School, I have a wealth of experience
teaching swimming to students of all ages, from infants to adults, in cities
across North America.
One of the most frequently asked questions
I receive from parents is how to protect their children from chlorine found in
pools. If you’re in the pool a
lot, the chlorine and other chemicals can be very harsh for your skin, hair,
and swim gear. Repeated exposure to the pool water starts to break down the
materials of your swim gear and also depletes your skin and hair of its natural
oils. For those with sensitive skin, chlorine can trigger allergies, rash or
even sinus problems.
[Read more: Public Swimming Pools in the Hudson Valley]
To help you keep
yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe from chlorine-related problems,
we’ve provided tips on how to protect skin, hair, and swim gear from
chlorinated pool water:
Chlorine bonds to skin and hair, meaning water alone cannot remove it.
Swimmers often carry the smell of the chemical for a day or two. One of the
solutions to the problem is Vitamin C, which is an effective neutralizer.
Parents can create their own topical spray by mixing one
teaspoon (5g) of Vitamin C powder (found in most health and wellness stores)
into about 500ml of water.
[Read more: Water Safety Tips for Your Family]
Hair is also porous and absorbs easily.
Rinsing it with cool tap water prior to swimming will make it less likely to
soak up chlorinated pool water. Another effective solution is to coat your
child’s hair with olive oil, baby oil or coconut oil before putting on a swim
cap. Rinse hair immediately with a shampoo that neutralizes chlorine after
swimming and do not dry hair with hair dryers on the “high” setting to prevent
further drying hair out.
Lastly, chlorinated pools can negatively
affect swimsuits. Wetting swimsuits in cold (warmer water can have degenerative
effects on the fabric) tap water right before and after getting in and out of
pools prevents it from absorbing as much chlorinated pool water. Avoid using
the washing machine as much as possible and allow the swimsuit to air dry in
the sun to kill bacteria and prevent mildew. If the washing machine must be
used, add a few tablespoons of vinegar to help neutralize chlorine.
[Read more: How water smart is your child?]
Swimming is often said to be one of the most important life skills and
the earlier a child learns to swim, the earlier they can reap the benefits. With that in mind, let your children swim with ease this upcoming summer
and have fun!
Diana Goodwin is the founder and president
of AquaMobile
Swim School, a private swim school that
offers high quality swim instruction at clients’ home and condo pools throughout
North America. AquaMobile Swim School can be reached at info@aquamobileswim.com or
1-888-950-7946.