Keep it cool in the pool but with a pinch of salt

Chennai

The summer holidays are close and swimming pools around the city are getting crowded as training slots fill up.

Mrinalini R, who has booked her daughter into a class at a well-known swimming pool in Mahalingapuram, is eager for her son to enrol too. “He is extremely hyperactive and channelising his energy is a problem. Swimming is a good physical exercise and it will keep him calm for the rest of the evening,” she says.

When selecting a swimming pool, one has to make sure that it is cleaned regularly. SDAT Velachery, SDAT Shenoy Nagar and Dolphin Swimming Academy are some of the well maintained swimming pools.

“The 15-day course costs up to Rs 2,600 per head and the annual fee is Rs 8,600,” says a representative from VV International School of Swimming. Coaches stress on  certain points to look out for before having one’s child enter the pool. S. Nataraj, a swimming instructor, singles out safety as the paramount one. “Swimming pools get extremely crowded in summer and there has to be more than one person looking at the pool,” he says.

Too many people using the same pool can result in infections. Cosmetologist and dermatologist Dr. Deepika Lunawat says, “Opt for a pool that is properly chlorinated. Use a sunscreen on the skin with a good SPF that is water resistant; apply it half an hour before you go swimming. Take a proper shower after you finish, especially those who are diabetic. It’s important to dry the skin thoroughly and apply an anti-bacterial cream.”