What's in The Swimming Pools ?

BY: Hadeel

Resource: CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/health/cdc-pool-water/index.html?hpt=he_c2


In the summer, the most famous entertainment in most of the countries is swimming because it's refreshing and people can reduce the hot weather by cooling themselves in the pools. The smell of the chlorine in the swimming pools let us think that it is 100% clean from microbes, but that is not true at all . According to that article,the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) took a sample from 161 filters in public and private swimming pools and they found a shocking results. They found in more than half of the samples a microbe called E.coli which comes from the swimmers when they poop in the pools!! This is really disgusting and I can tell  that it's a large number of people because half of the samples were full of the  aforementioned microbes. The problem is that the swimmers do not take a shower and clean themselves before swimming in the pools. In addition, according to the scientist said that each one of us carries about 0.14 germs of fecal material into the pool.

In order to swim in a really clean pools, swimmer should take shower before getting into the pool and ill people with diarrhea should not swim at all.Because one diarrhea accident can cause an infection to anyone who accidentally drink from  pool water. In the article,Thomas Lachocki, the CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation says that" pools should contain 1-4 parts per million of chlorine and pH levels should be within 7.2--7.8" He says also, that you can buy the chlorine and pH tests in any market store and you can know in five seconds only what the various level are. Furthermore, a clear water in the pool does not mean it is safe at all as researcher says, " the cloudy  water is an absolute positive sign that something is not right." 

The  CDC gives some steps to do to prevent the germs in the swimming pools which are listed below:
First, never swim with a diarrhea, and take a shower with soap before swimming. Second,every 60 minutes you should take a bathroom break. Third, wash your hands after using the toilet or changing a diapers . Finally, try not to swallow the pool water.