16 April 2007

Top Guide To Healthy Swimming

Do swim diapers or swim pants prevent fecal matter from entering the water?

Not likely. Swim diapers are unlikely to prevent diarrhea (which may contain germs) from leaking into the pool.

Even though diapers or swim pants may hold in some feces, they are not leak proof and can still contaminate the pool water. Therefore, it is recommended that you change your child often and make frequent trips to the toilet.

Swim diapers or pants are not a remedy for frequent diaper changing.

What should I do if I see fecal matter in the pool? Immediately notify the pool attendant or lifeguard.

Pool staff should ask swimmers to leave the water immediately. The pool water may be tested and the chlorine levels raised, depending on the policy and initial chlorine level at the pool.

The wait between the closing and re-opening of the pool can be frustrating. Be supportive of pool management as the pool is closed to prevent the spread of recreational water illnesses (RWIs), which can make you and your family sick.

Should I think the water is safe if I don't see fecal matter in the pool?

No. Just because you can't see these germs doesn't mean that they are not present.

Even the best-maintained pools can spread illness. Therefore, the safest pools are pools that are not only well maintained, but also have the commitment of all patrons to practice healthy swimming behaviors.

Remember, chlorine does kill all germs, but it takes time. Some germs can live for hours to several days in swimming pools. Be aware that as a swimmer, you play a crucial role in preventing recreational water illnesses (RWIs).

How can I protect myself, my family, and others from getting sick?

Healthy swimming behaviors are needed to protect you and your kids from RWIs and will help stop germs from getting in the pool in the first place.

Here are six "P-L-E-As" that promote Healthy Swimming:

Three "P-L-E-As" for Everyone

# PLEASE don't swim when you have diarrhea...this is especially important for kids in diapers. You can spread germs into the water and make other people sick.


# PLEASE wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or after changing diapers. You can protect others by realizing that germs on your body end up in the water.

Three "P-L-E-As" for Parents with Young Kids

Follow these "P-L-E-As" to protect your child and others from getting sick and to help keep RWIs out of your community:

# PLEASE take your kids on bathroom breaks often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.

# PLEASE change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool and spread disease.

# PLEASE wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. We all have invisible amounts of fecal matter on our bottoms that could end up in the pool.

Do You Really Want A Horizon Treadmill?

The Horizon treadmill company are probably best known for producing a good treadmill package that is easily affordable by even those would-be exercisers on a tight budget.

With a range of features that you might expect to see on higher priced fitness equipment, a Horizon treadmill offers you a great treadmill workout without breaking the bank to achieve it.

They are available in a range of models, with price tags that range from well under a thousand dollars right up to the two thousand dollar mark. Consumers who have enjoyed the budget end of the Horizon treadmill range might think about investing in a higher spec model, to try to match their treadmill workout to their ever improving fitness levels, but reviewers would advise against such a switch, the Horizon treadmill is a favorite in the budget category, but treadmill ratings suggest that if you are looking to spend a little more to achieve the treadmill workout you want then another choice might be more appropriate.

Though the features offered on the lower price Horizon treadmill type are second to none for a budget treadmill, the experts say that the improvements you might expect to find on a more expensive Horizon treadmill simply arent up to scratch.

So what do you get with a Horizon treadmill? A range of features, including an easy fold system, shock absorption technology and a fan to help keep you cool while you avail of one of the pre-programmed or customizable treadmill workouts the Horizon line have to offer.

But as reviewers are quick to point out, it is not the features included in the Horizon treadmill that are under scrutiny, these are almost uniformly agreed to offer a great treadmill workout to anyone who purchases a Horizon.

Rather it is the possibility of what might be sacrificed in the Horizon treadmill to offer these features at a budget price, namely the quality of the Horizon parts and the long-term durability of the treadmill as a whole.

The upside to this criticism of the reliability of the treadmill workout offered by a Horizon machine is that consumer reviews rate the customer service offered by the Horizon team as exemplary.

Speedy and courteous, it seems that dealing with any flaw in the Horizon treadmill is not as fraction as painful as consumers frequently report their dealings with other treadmill manufacturers.

So if you are looking for a budget treadmill workout with all the trimmings, then a Horizon treadmill might just be the way for you to go. But if you want to upgrade down the line, choose another treadmill brand.

Elliptical Exercise Equipment : What To Look For When Buying

Are you considering in buying elliptical exercise equipment?

There are so many different brands and types of ellipticals out there - it can get confusing! How do you know which one is best for you and how do you avoid buying a lemon?

In order to keep things simple and have the very best buying experience, here are 3 key tips to help you choose the best elliptical exercise equipment:


1. Price


If you want a quality elliptical trainer, be prepared to spend at least $800. Why? Because most ellipticals under this price point just aren't built to stand up over the long haul.

Example: My $400 elliptical that I bought from a department store several years back lasted 3 months - 4 if you count the last month it was used as a clothes hanger in my living room.

After 3 months it developed a loud squeaking noise that couldn't be fixed - no matter how long or hard my handyman husband worked on it.

If I'd been smart enough to spend a bit more, I'd probably still have the elliptical today. In the end it was a huge waste of money and time.

So the bottom line is this: If you're really serious about getting in shape, you deserve to invest in a piece of exercise equipment that's going to last you - so be ready to spend a bit more on your elliptical trainer. If you consider how long the elliptical will last you, you actually SAVE money over the long term.


2. Who Are You Buying It From?

While there are lots of places the sell elliptical exercise equipment - both online and off, make sure they have several years of experience and a solid return policy. If a company has experience selling elliptical equipment, this will make your transaction (and shipping) go much more smoothly.

A solid return policy also gives you peace of mind when buying your elliptical. For example, even if you try your elliptical out in a store, you might get it home and find that after a week it strains your arms or hurts your hips.

You want to know that you can return your elliptical without a hassle. Many specialty fitness stores will offer some kind of return policy and most experienced online elliptical stores also offer you a standard 30 day return policy.

But it's always important to check before you buy.


3. Upper Body Arms

The beauty of an elliptical trainer is that it offers you a total body workout. Whereas treadmills and recumbent bikes tend to work mainly the lower body only, ellipticals offer you a chance to burn calories and build strength using upper body arm handles.

This means more calories burned in less time. Surprisingly enough however, not all elliptical trainers offer upper body arms with their units.

Make sure you choose an elliptical with upper body workout arms included if this is an option you want. It usually won't cost you extra to have upper body arms however one note of caution:

Many of the cheaper ellipticals don't necessarily have the coordination between the arms and legs exactly right. This can result in injury or a less efficient workout.

Rule of Thumb: You should not have to lean over to use the upper body arms.

So there are three things to consider when buying elliptical exercise equipment. Keep these things in mind and you'll save yourself time and loads of frustration!