Respiratory Issues
Throat Irritation
Eye Irriration
Skin Irriration
Cancer
I would like to stress and to expound upon the following:
Respiratory Issues
One of the most serious dangers of chlorine exposure is the development of respiratory issues in avid swimmers. Children who often swim in chlorinated pools are more likely to develop asthma and allergies than those who do not frequent chlorinated pools, according to Weil Lifestyle, a healthy living information website. High levels of chlorine in water may lead to hazardous fumes, which can affect breathing rate and induce coughing, which is especially true with indoor pools because there isn't always proper ventilation. Damage may occur in the lungs, and some individuals may experience an inflammatory reaction to chlorine exposure, which is known as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), a type of asthma brought about by exposure to irritating substances. Some individuals also develop chronic bronchitis. Those with pre-existing allergies, or who are regular smokers, are more likely affected by the chlorine in swimming pools.
Throat Irriration
Swallowing even a small amount of chlorinated water while swimming may lead to throat irritation. The esophagus becomes inflamed, and individuals experience a burning sensation in the throat. Symptoms usually abate with time, but repeated exposure to elevated chlorine levels in a pool may cause chronic throat irritation.
Chlorine doesn't kill everything in swimming pools.
In many pools, chlorine is used to kill germs but chlorine doesn't kill all germs and may take hours or even days to kill some germs.
From 1999-2000, more than 2,000 recreational water illnesses (RWIs) and four deaths occurred because of water system failures in recreational pools. The most common RWI by far is diarrhea which affects thousands who swallow infected pool water. Most swimming pool outbreaks go unrecognized and unreported.
How does the water get infected? It's not just the kiddies peeing in the pool! And it's not just the kiddies pooping in the pool! Adults who don't "wipe" thoroughly add 3 to 4 pounds of "solid" matter to the average water park (nice to know - huh?). On average, people have about 0.14 grams of feces on their bottoms which can contaminate the pool water. People who have diarrhea have millions of germs. If a swimmer has diarrhea, he or she can contaminate water if he or she has an "accident" in the pool.
GERMS, bacteria, parasites that you or your child swim with:
- Cryptosporidium is a parasite that is almost immune to chlorine (can live in a chlorinated pool for days) and can cause diarrheal distress. The approximate disinfectant time in chlorinated water for this germ is nearly seven days. In the very young child, or those with immune problems, crypto can cause severe debilitating illnesses. Some water parks have -- charmingly -- been described as "diarrhea farms."
- E.coli
- Giardia
- Shigella
- red eyes
- eye infection
- ear infection
- rash
- respiratory problems or infections
- difficulty in breathing
- urinary tract infections
- skin infection
- diarrhea
WARNING SIGNS that the pool water chemicals are out of balance or the pool water is infected:
- a heavy odor means harmful chemicals have formed
- pool water burns when you open your eyes under water
- pool water taste funny
- you see funny things swimming around in the water. HOWEVER, most bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye.
- Keep your pool well maintained and the chemicals balanced.
- If your child is not potty trained, keep a "swimmie" diaper on and if your child has an accident, change immediately.
- If there is a "poop" accident in the pool, get everyone out, clean it up, shock the pool and wait at least 24 hours before anyone swims in that pool.
- Observe these rules at water parks and community pools.
http://safety.lovetoknow.com/Swimming_Pool_Dangers
http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/recreational_facilities/pool_tips.pdf
Poisonous Ingredient
Swimming pool cleaner poisoning occurs when someone swallows these substances, touches the chemicals and acids in them, or breathes in their fumes. Chlorine, a chemical in swimming pool cleaners, is more likely than the acids to cause serious poisoning.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Poisonous Ingredient
•Bromine
•Calcium chloride
•Calcium hypochlorite
•Chelated copper
•Chlorine
•Soda ash
•Sodium bicarbonate
•Various mild acids (sodium bisulfate, phosphoric acid, sodium thiosulfate, cyanuric acid)
Chlorine, which reacts with water in and out of the body to form hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. Both are extremely poisonous.
Chlorine poisoning occurs when someone swallows or breathes in (inhales) chlorine.
Symptoms
Airways and lungs - Breathing difficulty (from breathing in the chlorine)
Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
Water filling the lungs (pulmonary edema)
Blood Severe change in acid levels of the blood (pH balance), which leads to damage in all of the body organs
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat - Loss of vision
Severe pain in the throat
Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
Gastrointestinal - Blood in the stool
Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
Severe abdominal pain
Vomiting
Vomiting blood
Heart and blood vessels Collapse
Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
Skin Burns
Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
Irritation
Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.
If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.
If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. Do NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.
If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
see: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/poison/chlorine-poisoning/overview.html
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), "Chemicals are added to pool water to kill disease-causing germs, maximize the efficacy of the disinfection process (for example, pH control), improve water quality, stop corrosion and scaling of equipment, and protect against algal growth. However, pool chemicals can also lead to injury when mixed together or when appropriate personal protective equipment is not used during handling". Please go to their link (below) to see recommendations based on a review of reports of pool chemical–associated injuries.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/preventing-pool-chemical-injuries.html
For more information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA 800-CDC-INFO begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 
800-CDC-INFO FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348.
800-CDC-INFO FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348.The Learn 2 SWIM safe program will use the highest care and awareness to these critical issues/ alerts while teaching your child. The rule is: 3 swallows of water and the lesson is over, whether it has been the entire time of the lesson or within the first 2 minutes of the lesson... it is crucial to observe the breathing and the swallowing of the child during lessons, and most crucial in infants and toddlers, and the learn2swimsafe instructor is most aware and will take the upmost precaution in observing your child in this area.
