There are many things to be careful about when enjoying water activities in valleys, beaches, and swimming pools. Particularly during the summer, many people flock to these water play areas, and visitors often encounter unexpected safety accidents. Here are the factors and preventive measures for water play safety accidents that can be prepared if caution is taken in advance.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a symptom that can occur when the body’s heat production decreases or heat loss increases. If hypothermia happens, it can lead to death in a short time. In the case of mild hypothermia, the body’s trembling phenomenon is prominent, goosebumps rise on the skin, and the skin blood vessels contract, making the skin pale. If hypothermia is suspected, immediately remove wet clothes, wipe off the moisture on the body, and wrap the body with towels or clothes to prevent the body temperature from dropping.
Leg Cramps
One of the symptoms that people often encounter while playing in the water is leg cramps. Moving too much in the water with leg cramps leads to a significant accident. If you get cramps in the water, gathering your body around and floating on the water first is important. Then, take a deep breath, put your face in the water, and pull the toes of the cramped leg towards your body as much as possible. After the pain has gone, slowly come up to land and massage the area where the cramp occurred thoroughly.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish tentacles have stinging cells that can paralyze prey when they touch. Getting stung by a jellyfish’s stinging cells at the beach is a frequent safety accident. If you get stung by a jellyfish, immediately leave the water and let the nearby safety officers know. The stung area should be rinsed with seawater; if stinging cells are left on the skin, they should be removed. If the pain from the jellyfish sting lasts for a long time, it could be deadly, so it is recommended to visit a hospital.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a skin disease that causes inflammation in the hair follicles for various reasons. If a small lump under the skin is touched, it’s safe to consider it folliculitis. While playing in the water, bacteria can penetrate the skin and cause infection, often developing into folliculitis. It is usually obtained by entering the water with wounds, so to prevent folliculitis, you should maintain a clean skin hygiene status and be careful not to get wounds on the entire skin when playing in the water.
Otitis Externa
Otitis externa is an inflammatory disease that occurs when the tube from the ear’s entrance to the eardrum is infected with bacteria. Otitis externa shows symptoms such as pain, itching, and hearing loss. Otitis externa is an inflammation caused by increased humidity in the external ear or physical stimulation, and it can be prevented by being careful not to let dirty water or foreign substances enter the external ear. Even if a foreign substance enters or pain is felt, it is better not to use cotton swabs where you cannot look closely at the external ear.
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
Many people may have had the experience of getting conjunctivitis at the beach during the summer when they were young. Most of the conjunctivitis obtained while playing in the water is epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. This is a disease in which the conjunctiva is infected with adenovirus, accompanied by symptoms such as tears, congestion, eye discharge, foreign body sensation, and glare. To prevent epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, it is advised to wash your hands frequently and not touch your eyes with your hands. Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is highly contagious, so if you suspect it, doctors recommend refraining from playing in the water for the sake of others.
Sunburn
Exposure to excessive ultraviolet sunlight through outdoor activities, such as playing in the water, will cause skin damage. This is called sunburn. Sunburn is caused by UVB contained in sunlight. UVB can cause sunburn, freckles, liver spots, and spots on the skin epidermis in a short time. Sunburn is a symptom that people with sensitive skin and white people are prone to. When sunburn is suspected, it is crucial to cool the heat with a shower, etc., and when the pain subsides, apply aloe gel or moisturizer to maintain skin moisture. The recovery period for sunburn can take about a week.
Spinal Disorders
Those who visit water parks for water play should be especially careful about back pain. This is because the pressure received through artificial waterfalls and attractions can strain the neck and shoulders. People with neck disc disease should be cautious because even a tiny shock can cause a disc to slip out. Scientifically, the shock that occurs when a 2.5m wave hits a breakwater is the same as hitting a car running at 60km/h.
Skin Dryness
After playing in the water, you may feel your skin getting dry. The saltiness of seawater and the chlorine in swimming pools cause skin dryness. If the skin becomes dry, it can also cause acne, psoriasis, and eczema, which can hurt the hair. Therefore, it is recommended to always take a shower after playing in the water. Wash off the salt and chlorine components through a shower, and never forget to wash your swimsuit thoroughly.
Norovirus
Norovirus is often detected in water play areas. It is a kind of food poisoning symptom you get while consuming something, and it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal pain. There are no specific antiviral drugs for norovirus, and there are no vaccines that can prevent infection. Therefore, it is most important not to consume contaminated water. Even if diarrhea occurs, in most cases, symptoms recover naturally without specific treatment within a few days.
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