By Staff
waterhead.com
October 3, 2011

Swimming, jumping into the cool water during a hot summer day or participating in organized swimming events; is pure enjoyment to almost everyone in one form or another.  Remember the lazy, carefree days of your childhood when the best thing to do was put on a swimsuit and go hang out at the pool or local swimming hole with all your friends.  Water has the capacity to draw thousands of people on a daily basis anywhere in the world.  From the backyard pool to the beautiful sand beaches of Maui, frolicking in the cool waters is something that everyone can do.  Most people just jump in the water and away they go but did you know that there are items that you can wear in the water to make it more enjoyable? Depending on what you do in the water, search through any sporting goods store and see what you find. 

First thing you may think of are swim caps.  These are worn for many reasons.  Someone who competes in competitive swimming may wear a cap to make their movement more streamlined allowing them to move faster through the water. Perhaps the swimmer does not want to get their hair wet; simply slip on a swim cap and when you remove it your hair will be dry. 

Nothing clogs a pool filer like clumps of hair and nothing ruins your hair more than pool chemicals.  It would benefit the pool swimmer to wear a cap making pool care and hair care much easier.  People who participate is water polo or other swimming activities such as underwater ballet or synchronized swimming have to wear swim caps so that long hair does not get tangled and interfere with the routine or the ability to see. They also allow for a uniform, team look.

Swim caps come in many different materials, designs and colors allowing the wearers personality to shine through.  For the fun loving person look for brightly colored or fun patterned swim caps; kids can find caps with cartoon characters on them and the serious swimmer can find them in team colors, solid colors, and bold prints; whatever color or pattern fits their need.  Swim caps today are not the ugly white bathing caps your grandparents wore.

Ear, nose and eye protection is important when spending time in the water.  The ears are always open allowing water to get into the ears and settle behind the eardrum causing ear infections or worse swimmers ear. If anyone in your family spends a lot of time in the water, look into ear plugs to keep water out of the ears.  There are several types of ear plugs, just like swim caps, that can be found on the market.  The easiest ones to use are made of soft foam that you roll in your fingers to make them more pliable, insert them into the ear and when you let go they open up and fit to the users’ ear shape.  Hunters use these plugs to protect their ears from the sounds of gun shots. They come in different sizes and thicknesses so there is something that will benefit everyone.  Another idea is to try modeling putty.  Simply roll a small amount between the fingers until soft and moldable then press into the ear forming a seal and keeping the water out.  The swimmer that has repeated, serious ear problems may need to visit a doctor and get custom molded ear plugs.  While these types may create a tighter seal, the swimmer will outgrow them as they get older and need to get new ones made which can get costly.

Now that your ears are protected let's take a look at the nasal passages.  Do you remember as a kid the first time you tried to breath under water and got a stinging nose full of chlorinated water?  The chemicals used in pools can actually singe the protective hairs inside your nose and create breathing problems.  If you’re not a pool swimmer, the dirt and germs in lakes and oceans can get in through your nose and cause health problems.  Nose clips are the answer to this problem.  A small plastic clip, shaped like a "U" with a small spring will pinch your nostrils closed and keep out unwanted guests.  Several stories have surfaced this past summer of brain eating amoebas killing several people.  Had these people used nose clips these bacteria would not have made their way into their bodies and destroyed them.  Nose clips are also beneficial in teaching children to swim without holding their nose with their hands.  To properly swim you need both hands.  Just clip your nostrils closed and enjoy the time in the water.  With a swim cap and nose clip your little swimmer will be sailing through the water in no time.

Our eyes are a precious part of our bodies and need to be protected from chemicals and irritants.  Swim goggles form a protective seal are the eye area keeping chlorine and other pool chemicals from irritating, or possibly damaging your eyes.  Many people who spend a lot of time in the water and attempt to open their eyes begin to notice "halos" around lights.  This is caused by the chlorine burning and irritating the lens of the eye.  Continuously subjecting your eyes to these chemicals can lead to permanent damage.  Whether you are playing diving games in the pool or swimming in the ocean looking at the fish and reefs, keep a pair of swim goggles handy and protect your eyes.

There are people who think that wearing swim caps and other protective swim gear makes them look silly but, just like any other sport or hobby, safety must come first.

So you can see that swimming, while a leisurely activity still requires what is referred to as "Personal Protective Equipment" (PPE) to stay healthy, safe and carefree.  If you put all of these protective pieces together; swim caps, nose clips, goggles, and earplugs; your swimming experiences will be enjoyable for years to come.

Others who read this article also read Everything You Need To Know About Rowing, People Prefer Yachting as a Lifestyle and Boat Shoes Are Important to Water Safety.

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