Swim safely in the pool, lake and sea

It doesn't matter what your favorite aquatic environment is: there are some important things to consider in both the indoor and outdoor pools, the lake, the sea and even the river with lifeguard recertification near me.

Pool

The swimming pool is the ideal place to learn to swim and to develop stamina. Thanks to the signs on the bottom, you can always orient yourself when making the tubs. Beware of chlorine which could cause allergies. The alternative is natural swimming pools without chemical additives which are increasingly common in Switzerland. Some examples: Beyerstein AG, Riehen BS or Winterthur Geiselweid ZH.

The needle

At the lake it is important to regularly keep your head above the water for a moment while swimming to orient yourself and spot possible obstacles or dangers such as ships, boats, stand-up-paddlers or other swimmers. Avoid completely the area around the docking of the liners, better to stay within the 300 meters wide lake shore. Don't take the risk of diving where the depth of the water is not clear. And standing waters, such as around canals or even in ponds, are not ideal areas for swimming due to water fleas. When the water temperature is very high there is also a risk of finding duck fleas, which can cause so-called bather's dermatitis. It manifests itself as a reddened, very itchy skin reaction, sometimes with the presence of pustules. Therefore, the rule of thumb is to avoid lakeside places where there are many water birds. After swimming it is useful to take a thorough shower anddry well with American lifeguard Association Va.

Sea

At the sea you have to be careful and avoid treacherous currents and high waves. For the rest, the same applies here: pay attention to others! As at the lake, it is advisable to keep your head above the water from time to time to orient yourself. And when doing freestyle, the head position and breathing must be adapted accordingly, otherwise the waves would get in the way and you would swallow a lot of water. Breathing should therefore be done "backward" instead of to the side as usual, advises Marius Frey.

River

The river is only suitable for experienced swimmers who should never enter it alone anyway! In running waters, in addition to the current, attention must be paid to obstacles such as bridge piers and, very importantly, to eddies which, in the worst case, could suck. In this case, as the expert Frey advises, one must remain calm. "You shouldn't try to swim desperately to get out of the reel because the water would quickly run into your lungs." All that remains is to dive deep and then rise from the bottom. Anything else is useless ». When swimming in the river, it is also important to know the best exit points on the route so that you can reach them quickly in case of need or emergency.

What swimmers should eat

Swimming with a full stomach is as wrong as swimming with a completely empty stomach. Swimming instructor Marius Frey handles it very simply: “I usually get an apple or an energy bar - that's enough. For longer distances, even a banana is suitable for providing energy ». IMpuls nutritionist Pia Teichmann recommends not only fruit such as melon as a snack for the pool , but also snack baby carrots or dried fruit and mixed nuts - or homemade snacks such as Power balls , Granola Bars or Oatmeal Cups. The nut mixes from YOU are also suitable, available in different varieties such as Active Mix , Genius Mix or Powerful Mix . This article provides additional picnic ideas. And if you also bring snacks from the dairy counter such as mozzarella sticks or eggs into the pool , be careful to keep them cool!