Do we have to dress warmly when swimming? Because spas lower the water temperature to save energy, some operators allow wetsuits. How useful is this for small and large swimmers?
Are there any good tricks for staying warm while swimming when energy-saving measures are taking effect indoors? «Some of the children have already appeared in neoprene for the swimming courses.» That says Martina van der Wehr, who works in the press office of the Berlin baths company. The use of wetsuits is now permitted in the capital’s indoor and outdoor pools. An announcement that may unsettle some bathers: should we now all wear rubber suits in the swimming pool that protect «against great heat loss», as the Berlin bathing establishments write in a statement? Rather no, but if you get cold quickly, you can still take precautions.
Water temperature still meets guidelines
But let’s start at the beginning: the swimming pools reduce the water temperature in the pools in order to save energy. «Typical is a drop from 28 to 26 degrees,» says Ann-Christin von Kieter from the German Society for Bathing (DGfdB), in which many companies are organized nationwide.
However, a water temperature of 26 degrees is still within the range specified by the guidelines for pool construction for indoor pools.
So everything a false alarm? Not quite. Because the austerity measures definitely have an impact. «It cannot be denied that for at least some of the pool visitors, the reduction in water temperature reduces the feel-good factor,» says Matthias Stoll. He is the prevention team leader at the German Life Saving Society (DLRG).
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Warm-up breaks
Therefore, in view of the cooler water temperatures, it is all the more important to take breaks to warm up. At least if you stay longer in the water. Trained swimmers, however, felt comfortable even at 22 degrees and lasted a long time – if they kept moving. Because the work of the muscles generates heat in the body.
However, if you shiver or get bluish lips, it is better to end the swim training. You should pay particular attention to these signs in children, advises Andreas Kästner, specialist in internal medicine and cardiology from the medical team of the national team at the German Swimming Association (DSV).
Because the little ones cool down faster than adults. And even people with little sub-fatty tissue are less able to cope with cool water temperatures.
Neoprene – yes or no?
But how do you keep warm while swimming? With neoprene? Neither the DLRG nor the German Swimming Association (DSV) give a general recommendation to wear a wetsuit when visiting the swimming pool.
«There are considerable individual differences in the cold tolerance in the water,» says specialist Andreas Kästner. «With very little fat deposits, water temperatures of 19 degrees can already lead to hypothermia despite swimming movement.» Hypothermia means: The core body temperature falls below 35 degrees. However, such hypothermia does not threaten in the indoor pool. The water temperatures are far from being that low.
According to Kästner, full-body wetsuits only make sense in very cool water temperatures of less than 21 degrees. And they have some disadvantages – especially the cheap ones. According to Kästner, they are often not suitable for swimming because they restrict mobility. Quality goods for children, for example, are only available from around 50 euros.
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Alternatives to neoprene
From a swimming educational point of view, DLRG employee Stoll would prefer not to see wetsuits during swimming lessons. «The problem is that even two millimeter thick suits provide more buoyancy and it is easier to learn to swim.» If the children are later in the water without a suit, this can lead to uncertainty.
But there are alternatives to keep your body warm in the pool. For example a bathing cap that ensures that you lose less heat over your head. And shorties, i.e. swimming suits with short sleeves and legs, can also be “a sensible compromise” for people who are sensitive to cold, says internist Andreas Kästner.
With material from dpa