Health Risks

Swimming is considered a sport with a low risk of injury. Nevertheless there are some health risks with swimming. Most lethal risks in swimming are due to the inability to swim. It is recommended to swim in an area supervised by lifeguards and to pay attention to the water conditions. Possible health risks, ranging from potentially lethal to minor temporary inconveniences, are listed below:

Drowning

Drowning can cause injury or death.

• Drowning due to adverse water conditions which may force the body under water or force water into the body.
• Drowning due to negative buoyancy, for example due to being attached to items heavier than water or being trapped in an item heavier than water, such as a sinking ship.
• Drowning due to outside influence, as for example being pushed under water by another person by accident or intentionally.
• Drowning can also be caused by the inability to swim due to exhaustion or unconsciousness or a combination thereof. Besides other health risks listed below this may be due to effects unrelated to swimming as for example heart attacks and other strokes.

Adverse Effects of Water

Risks due to the effect of water on the human body.

• Secondary drowning, where inhaled salt water in the lungs after a near drowning starts to create a foam in the lungs that restricts breathing.
• Thermal shock after jumping into water can cause the heart to stop.
• Injuries may heal slower if submerged in water
• Spending time in the water can give a wrinkled skin on the fingers, palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. This disappears quickly without any negative effect.

Effects of Chemicals

Risks due to chemicals in the water.

• In chlorinated swimming pools the chlorine may burn in the eyes. This stops shortly after leaving the water. Other disinfection techniques using, for example, ozone can avoid this effect.
• Breathing small quantities of chlorine from the water surface whilst swimming for long periods of time may have an adverse effect on the lungs.
• Chlorine also has a negative cosmetic effect on hair after repeated long exposure.

Infections

Risks due to bacteria, fungi and viruses in the water. Water is an excellent environment for many bacteria, which may affect humans. The risk and severity of infection vary with the water quality. A selection of more common infections related to swimming are:

• Swimming and showering can cause athlete's foot. The easiest way to avoid this is drying the space between the toes after swimming.
• Swimming can cause ear infections in the ear canal (Otitis externa).
• Cases of Legionnaires' disease have been transmitted by improperly sterilised showers after swimming. Good swimming facilities heat the shower water to 60°C (140°F) once per week during closing time to disinfect the water system.

Physical Activity

Risks due to physical activity in the water specific to swimming.

• Competitive swimmers may have a health risk due to overuse. Butterfly s...