Unlock Your Potential with a Lifeguard Course

A lifeguard course is a comprehensive training program that provides individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge and certification to become a professional lifeguard and ensure the safety of swimmers in various aquatic environments

How unhealthy is a swimming and lifeguard pool?

And what about all those chemicals? Aren't they bad for our health? These are questions that are often asked. That is why we try to clarify in this blog post that your swim is perfectly healthy and, above all, good.

How do swimming pool maintenance products affect health?

A swimming and lifeguard pool needs maintenance . To keep the water quality clear and healthy, you should check the pH value and provide disinfection against bacteria. In general, the more often you check and adjust this, the fewer products you need.

The products themselves are not bad for your health, as long as the dosage in the pool is right. That is why we recommend measuring the water quality at least once a week, preferably 2 to 3 times .

Chlorine is often used for disinfection . Alternative disinfection methods such as salt electrolysis will eventually also produce chlorine . The ideal chlorine value for a private outdoor pool is approximately 1 mg/l. That amount is so negligible that it has absolutely no effect on your health. Only when this value would be much too high (for example higher than 3.5mg/l) can you suffer from the chlorine .

This starts with the known irritation of the eyes (red peaking eyes). This reaction is not caused by the chlorine itself, but by the substance that is released when the chlorine reacts with the dirt particles in the swimming pool (sweat, hair, dirt,…). This explains why we recommend showering before swimming.

Are algae harmful?

Algae in the swimming and lifeguard pool is a common complaint, mainly because it looks dirty. However, algae do not cause any diseases. If you have algae in the pool, you can swim further.

A lifeguard course is a structured training program that teaches individuals the essential skills and knowledge required to become a lifeguard, including water rescue techniques, first aid, CPR, and the ability to identify and prevent potential hazards in aquatic environments.

Because of the algae you will need more products to disinfect the pool. Because you naturally want to combat that algae and that requires chlorine . If you have algae in your water, your chlorine level will drop more quickly. That affects the water quality. If you don't treat the algae, the water will become cloudy and green. The result is an unpleasant smell. You don't want to go in that pool anymore.

Fortunately, we know the solution against green swimming pool water !

What about urine in the pool?

Unfortunately, people pee in the water more often than we would like and you never know what the hygiene of the other swimmers is like. So if you take a sip of water while swimming, it is not 100% pure water.

Scientists have calculated that the proportion of urine in that sip of water is about 20 nanolitres. That is very little and therefore completely negligible. In addition, urine contains little that is harmful to the human body. So you can conclude that this is not a problem at all.

The answer is a bit more complicated. The urine in the swimming and lifeguard pool undergoes a chemical reaction with the chlorine to form cyanogen chloride. And that substance is poisonous. You could experience nuisance from that substance, such as skin and eye irritation and nausea when you ingest 3.5 mg in one go.

Fortunately, the concentration in a swimming pool is much lower, about 2.5 picograms per litre. To be bothered by that substance, you would have to drink about the entire pool. The thought in itself is not pleasant, but in itself you cannot get health problems from urine in the swimming and lifeguard pool.

Green hair from swimming?

Very occasionally we receive a question from someone who suffers from green hair. The chlorine in the water is often looked at , but that discoloration is actually caused by oxidized metals in the water.

However, chlorine and colored hair can enhance that process. Chlorine and some hair dyes cause the hair to become brittle and porous, making it easier for the hair to absorb other chemicals that cause the discolorations.

If you suffer from green hair, then you have to deal with the metals in the swimming and lifeguard pool. 

You can find more information about combating metals on this page .

Still, as a swimmer you can protect your hair. We recommend rinsing your hair with water and using a conditioner. This moisturizes your hair so that it absorbs less chlorine . Another simple solution is to use a tight-fitting swim cap.