Bathing fun or the risk of germ? This is how you protect yourself in Lower Saxony!

Bathing fun or the risk of germ? This is how you protect yourself in Lower Saxony!

The bathing season 2025 started opening the Frisian pool in Weener in Lower Saxony on April 15. During this time, it is particularly important to pay attention to hygiene and health protection to minimize the risks of infections and diseases when bathing. Experts from the Wolfenbüttel district urgently warn of possible germs and pathogens that lurk in swimming pools and swimming lakes. These include Legionella, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and also Escherichia Coli, which are usually introduced by bathers. Parasites and various viruses can also occur in the water that can lead to serious diseases.

The transmission of these pathogens is not only via the water itself, but also via surfaces or the drinking water installation. The shower area and the pelvic edges, where there is direct body contact, are particularly critical areas. Hygiene in swimming pools is therefore essential to protect the health of the bathers. Daily cleaning measures and personal hygiene measures by visitors are factors that contribute to reducing the risk of disease.

important hygiene measures for bathers

The experts recommend that some simple but effective hygiene measures to be observed:

• don't go into the water with open wounds.
• do without the mouth and nose.
• Avoid bathing for diseases or weakened immune system.
• Shower before and after bathing.
Wear
• bathing shoes in movement areas.
• not bathing if there is suspicion of infectious disease.

It should also be noted that the water in swimming pools is continuously prepared and disinfected. These measures aim to kill or inactivate microorganisms that could be a health risk as quickly as possible, whereby the legal requirements that are anchored in the Infection Protection Act also play an important role here. Health offices are obliged to monitor the water quality and ensure that it is harmless to health, whereby the guidelines according to DIN 19643 and the recommendations of the Federal Environment Agency serve as the basis.

risks when bathing in swimming lakes

Not only in swimming pools there are risks. Bathing lakes, which are often not prepared or disinfected, can also lead to health problems. A frequent source of danger is faeces that can adhere to the human body despite good hygiene and get into the water. Darm germs such as coli bacteria are not uncommon and can lead to diarrhea and vomiting, especially for people with a weakened immune system.

Furthermore, women, especially those with diabetes or pregnant women, can develop vaginal infections and bladder infections through these germs. In the event of signs such as itching or burning, you should react quickly and pay attention to suitable hygiene measures. In this context, wearing bathing shoes and careful drying between the toes are highly recommended to reduce the risk of foot fungus.

That is why it is important to use bathing lakes only in monitored EU bathing waters. The condition of bathing areas can be evaluated by indications such as the presence of dead animals, use by animals or visible algae flowers. High temperatures in nutrient -rich waters also contribute to the formation of algae flowers that can make the water inedible.

Overall, the bathing season not only demands fun and joy, but also a certain degree of mindfulness and a sense of responsibility. Consulting simple hygiene rules can make a decisive contribution to ensuring that the time in the water remains carefree and healthy. For further information on health risks and hygiene measures that contribute to a safe swimming, we refer to the reports at Regionalhute href = "https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wimfen-und-badendiese-kinheit-kemei-im-wasser ,s6jvy8v"> BR and Environmental Bundesamt .