Illness and Public Pools

sheepotato

So it's winter and I picked up someone's germs on Thanksgiving. I haven't been to the pool for a week now and I really want to back today. How long do those of you who use public or shared pools usually wait before going back when you are sick or do you just go and hope that the chlorine will kill your germs before you spread them to someone else?

I usually get over being ill after 3 days but I have a compromised immune system at the moment (pregnant). The last time I was sick it was a full 9 days before I felt better but I am not sure how long I was contagious.

yogicarl

My feeling is the chlorine will knock out most of the really nasty bugs and the ones that are left will help to challenge and therefore strengthen my immune system. There are just as many nasty bugs and other nasties coming into the pool from people who don't shower or toilet before entering the pool as people who come in with the odd sniffle.

sheepotato

Thanks, that puts it into perspective for me. I don't have any congestion anymore I just still feel fatigued so hopefully I'm not contagious anyway.

NoelFigart1

You probably aren't contagious.

I work at a hospital. If we have a cough and a fever of over 100, we're not supposed to come to work until the fever has been under 100 for 24 hours.

I apply the same logic to swimming. I've never caught something in the pool.

Worst case of flu I ever had, though was gotten from the weight room. Some inconsiderate *kitten* was training while coughing and snotty, and apparently didn't use disinfectant on the equipment he'd used.

sheepotato

Thank you, I didn't know what sort of window I was still contagious but it was pretty dead tonight so I skipped a lane between the next person and I'm sure they will be fine. In the past I've just gone about my business as soon as I was feeling better but with it lingering for so long like this I was worried.

That's awful! I got into the habit of wiping the equipment before and after I use it when I noticed how few people seem to wipe it down, that's just because I don't like touching other people's sweat. I didn't even think they could have cold or flu germs on there too. Ick.