A day at the pool is an American pastime.
Whether during a backyard barbeque, as part of a luxurious vacation, or as part of a community gathering, poolside activities are a great way to stay cool and have fun in the warm summer months.
However, it is important to realize that the pool can be a dangerous place.
Poolside accidents and injuries are common, and can be particularly lethal for children under the age of 14.
Because of this it is important to be aware of poolside dangers and what should be done to in the case of an accident.
Common Poolside Accidents and Treatments · Sunburn: This is a very common poolside condition, and can happen even on a cloudy day.
Sunburn can range from mildly irritated skin to severe, third-degree burns.
Sunburn can be soothed with aloe, either in its natural form or in a manufactured lotion.
No matter the weather it is important to always wear sunscreen and to apply it often and liberally.
This will not only protect you from the discomfort of sunburn but will also decrease your likelihood of getting skin cancer.
· Slips and falls: Wet surfaces can be hard to navigate, especially when running or not paying attention while walking.
A slip, trip or fall near the pool is particularly risky because swimmers are wearing little to protect their body from the fall.
Injuries resulting from these incidents can be scrapes, bruises, cuts, sprains, and even broken or fractured bones.
It is important to instantly clean out any open wound and seek medical attention for any serious injuries.
If you have an open wound you should not get into a communal pool.
It can impede the healing process for your sore and is also unsanitary for others using the pool.
· Choking or drowning: If someone is choking in the water, get them out immediately.
Usually they will stop choking on their own.
However, if they fall unconscious or have swallowed a lot of water you should call for medical assistance immediately.
· Diving accidents: Unsafe diving can result in collisions with pool equipment, the pool structure, or other swimmers.
These accidents can result in broken bones or concussions and can even lead to drowning.
If a diver suffers from an accident get all injured parties out of the water immediately, call for help, and check for consciousness.
If the victims are conscious, ask simple questions to gauge their clarity and ask them to describe any pain they are feeling.
If they are unconscious check their pulse and breathing until help arrives.
When medical assistance arrives tell them any information gathered from the victims and lead them first to the unconscious individuals.