Safe Swimming For Everyone

If you’ve had enough of running, are tired of walking or lifting weights, bored of biking or simply can’t stand the heat, then swimming is for you. This popular water sport is a great way to exercise, meet new friends, and kill time.

People swim for different reasons. A dip in the ...If you’ve had enough of running, are tired of walking or lifting weights, bored of biking or simply can’t stand the heat, then swimming is for you. This popular water sport is a great way to exercise, meet new friends, and kill time.

People swim for different reasons. A dip in the pool or meeting the waves on the beach can help one cool off after a hard day’s work or a tough day at the office. Others enjoy the feeling of floating and sliding through the water while some find swimming a relaxing way to meditate, leaving them refreshed and ready to face another day.

Indeed, the reasons for swimming may vary but experts agree that swimming has a lot of health benefits. Among these are strong heart and lungs, less frequent attacks of asthma, and improved stamina.

“Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. It can serve as a cross-training element to your regular workouts. Before a land workout, you can use the pool for a warm-up session. Swimming with increasing effort to gradually increase your heart rate and stimulate your muscle activity is easily accomplished in the water. After a land workout, swimming a few laps can help you cool-down, move blood through your muscles to help them recover, and help you relax as you glide through the water,” explained Mat Luebbers in About.com.

“Many swimmers also find an in-direct benefit from swimming. They develop life skills such as sportsmanship, time-management, self-discipline, goal-setting, and an increased sense of self-worth through their participation in the sport. Swimmers seem to do better in school, in general terms, than non-swimmers as a group,” Luebbers added.

To reap the numerous benefits of swimming, here are some safety tips to consider:

Check the depth of the water before you dive and know your limits.

When you’re in a pool, don’t run around or drink from glass containers.

Always have a buddy. Don't swim alone.

Outdoors, the best swimming hours and the safest are the last two hours of the morning and late hours in the afte
oon from 3 to 6 p.m.

On very hot days, don't swim during the middle of the day. The heat of the sun and the glare on the water may give you a headache.

Make sure the water is clean and free from hazards like broken glasses, dead leaves, insects, empty rusty cans, and rotten branches.

Beginners should confine their activities to enclosed areas.

Uncontrollable shivering, a bluish tinge on the lips, a drawn pinched face, cold and clammy skin are warning signs that you should stop swimming.

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