I coach at a YMCA pool (built in 1956 and is a 20 yard pool) where the air temperature ranges around 92-95 degrees and the water temp is usually around 88 degrees. Also, there is poor ventilation because the ventilation system is not working properly. Lately I have come home after coaching with terrible headaches. I worry about our age-group swimmers too because they are working out in such warm temps. The maintenance dept and Y will not lower the temp and have not taken our complaints as a priority. Is this a dangerous situation or do I need to just grin and bear it. Please advise if anyone can help or tell me who we can alert. Thanks!
My husband is the healthy water specialist at Centers for Disease Control and has been working on recreational water/pool issures for over 10 years; he works in partnership with pool operators throughout the country...so I asked him what he thought. His response: Poor ventilation in indoor pools is a public health issue for all--the competitive swimmers, the "noodlers", and young children in swim lessons. He suggested that you call the local Public Health Department and ask to speak to the person in charge of local pool inspections to check the records on that Y pool and ask them to follow up on the ventilation problems.
If you are getting headaches, so are other people. I know it is often our inclination to not cause problems by speaking up on these issues, but as patrons, it is critical to address these public health issues in order to effect change and provide healthy swim environments for everyone at the facility.
For more information on healthy swimming questions, check out CDC's website: www.healthyswimming.org
Hope that helps!
Lynn
My husband is the healthy water specialist at Centers for Disease Control and has been working on recreational water/pool issures for over 10 years; he works in partnership with pool operators throughout the country...so I asked him what he thought. His response: Poor ventilation in indoor pools is a public health issue for all--the competitive swimmers, the "noodlers", and young children in swim lessons. He suggested that you call the local Public Health Department and ask to speak to the person in charge of local pool inspections to check the records on that Y pool and ask them to follow up on the ventilation problems.
If you are getting headaches, so are other people. I know it is often our inclination to not cause problems by speaking up on these issues, but as patrons, it is critical to address these public health issues in order to effect change and provide healthy swim environments for everyone at the facility.
For more information on healthy swimming questions, check out CDC's website: www.healthyswimming.org
Hope that helps!
Lynn
