Swimming pool Archives - Jeffrey Sterling, MD

Straight, No Chaser: Healthy and Safe Swimming

Did you know this is National Healthy Safe and Swimming Week? Whether you’re an avid swimmer or only deal with it on a vacation, it’s important to be reminded how to be safe while you’re in the water. Based on recommendations of the American Red Cross, consider these important swimming safety tips, which include direct and indirect hazards posed by swimming and related activities.

Preparing to swim

Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate swim courses.
Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing aids, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
Enroll in home pool safety, water safety, first-aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around and in water.
If you have a home pool, secure it with appropriate barriers.
Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

While in the water

Choose to swim in levels of water consistent with your skill; being adventurous can be deadly.
Until and unless you’re an expert swimmer, always swim with someone else.
Choose to swim in areas supervised by lifeguards.
Never leave a young child unattended near water. Develop the habit of having children ask permission to go near water.
When you’re the one supervising your children, always be attentive; avoid distractions.
If a child is missing, check the water first.
Protect your skin while swimming. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.

Water safety is just something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Every second matters in preventing death and/or long-term disability. Many children who drown will only be out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time. At the other end of risk, too often those believing themselves to be most skilled are most likely to place themselves in harm’s way with overly risk activities, leading to increased incidences of death (this is especially true for scuba divers). Take the time to protect yourselves and your loved ones.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
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Straight, No Chaser: Hot Tub and Barbershop Folliculitis (Yep, Even More Staph Infections!)

Follulicitis. You know it well as hot tub rash, barber bumps, ingrown hairs and many other names. The first thing you need to know is the ‘itis’ means inflammation, and the follicle is the pouch from which your hair grows. Any inflammation of that area is folliculitis. You’ll typically see white-headed pimples with or without itching, pain and redness. So what? Let’s quickly run through causes, problems, prevention and treatment.
Causes

It’s usually caused by microorganisms (usually bacteria, including Staph and others, but also yeast, fungi and viruses may do the same).
Blocking skin pores will also get you there (think heavy application of make-up or oils, or heavy sweating in tight spandex-type clothing).
External irritation can be a cause (think long-term topical steroid use, tight clothing, untreated scratches or lacerations, improperly chlorinated hot tubs, whirlpools or swimming pools).

Problems
It’s inflammation that most commonly is an infection. The irritation can progress to a skin infection (cellulitis) and/or a boil (abscess). These can range from annoyances to ‘not-fun’ to outright problematic, particularly if you’re diabetic, have HIV or otherwise have a compromised immune system.
Prevention
I’m just going to give you a list of healthy hygiene tips that will serve you well in many circumstances, including prevention of folliculitis.

Use antimicrobial soap.
Don’t share towels, and avoid using the same towel multiple times (Sorry, hotel chains!).
Shower immediately after getting out of the swimming pool, whirlpool or hot tub.
Don’t shave (and avoid otherwise irritating) areas where razor bumps exist.
Be moderate with application of lotions, makeups and other moisturizers.

Treatment
Most cases of folliculitis, whether an inflammation or an infection, resolve in 1-2 weeks, assuming you don’t further irritate it to the point where an substantial skin infection sets in. Consider the following a treatment progression for the overwhelming majority of cases; cases more severe (or any you may be concerned with) require consultation with your individual physician.

Warm compresses (clean, hot towels) to the area do a world of good.
Wash with antimicrobial soap, and consider using medicated shampoo, particularly if the discomfort is on the scalp and/or beard.
Your physician may consider topical or oral antibiotics if the situation warrants or worsens. That means you need to be alert for spreading of the bumps, fever, drainage or worsening of pain, swelling or redness.