A Sea of Band-Aids

With summer underway and the school year coming close to an end, the public swimming pools will start to open. Most people have a fond memory of these water parks but many forget about all the grossness that comes along with them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been swimming and would see a band-aid or toenail float by me. And not to mention the mass amounts of urine, blood, and pee also contaminating the pool.

How dirty are the pools? According to the CDC, every year 15 to 20 outbreaks of new or different diseases accrue due to these pools at over populated water parks. These outbreaks include diarrhea, stomach bugs, and much more. Part of these outbreaks is caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria that could have been easily prevented if pools had been properly cleaned the right way, and on a regular basis. Imagine taking the time to go to a park and ending up spending more time sick in bed.

People may also get sick from chlorine poisoning. This is where they add too much chlorine to the water, when someone inhales too many chemicals it can lead to it. Getting chlorine poisoning involves symptoms such as skin itchiness, eye irritation, and lung irritation. Many people have reported going to the ER after experiencing this after a visit to the pool. This can happen to anybody, and the ones to blame are often those incharge of the chemicals in the pool. The problem is that these parks don’t check the chemical balance of the water everyday which can be dangerous for those who decide to take a swim.

Another issue with the pools are the injuries that happen there. Water slides are manly guilty for the injuries sustained at a park. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission research found “more than 4,200 people a year taken to emergency rooms to be treated for scrapes, concussions, broken limbs, spinal injuries and other such injuries suffered on public waterslides,” said AP News. people also get hurt from things like low oxygen from almost drowning, diving board injuries, sun burns, bruising, and much more. Also according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 390 deaths a year on average are attributed to drowning in a swimming pool or at a spa.

It is no doubt that water parks are a blast to go to and an easy way to spend a boring day during the summer. Sophomore Kadee Deemer said, “I like getting to lay in the sun by the pool.” Is what makes her happy to go to the parks. But people should keep the things listed above in mind the next time they think about attending a public water park for their safety.