Summer in Beijing means pool days, splashing around, and escaping the heat. But before you dive in, let’s talk about keeping your little ones safe—because nothing ruins a fun day faster than an accident or a nasty post-swim infection.
First things first: if your child can’t swim yet, floaties are a must. Even in shallow water, kids can slip under in seconds, and drowning doesn’t always look like the dramatic splashing you see in movies. It’s silent and fast. So if they’re not strong swimmers, stick close, keep them in proper flotation gear, and always check that there’s a lifeguard on duty.
One vlogger on Douyin went as far as making a video that showed which color swimsuits stand out better in the water and which tend to camouflage with the pool. He tested 15 different colored swimsuits in the pool and outdoors to test which colors are the easiest to spot.
He concluded that cool colors like blue, purple, or white tend to blend in with indoor pools. But outdoors, these lighter cool colors stood out, but dark cool colors became practically invisible underwater. He referenced a case when a girl was stranded in the ocean for 36 hours, and after being rescued, she recounted seeing rescue boats searching for her just 20 feet away, but were unable to spot her floating in her black swimsuit. His point? Stick to bright, warm color swimsuits. In case your child is drowning, certain colors of swimsuits can make them harder for lifeguards to spot.
Now, let’s talk hygiene. Not all pools are sparkling clean, and trust me, a fun afternoon isn’t worth dealing with itchy skin, a stomach bug, or worse, herpangina later on.
My daughter’s first visit to a water park was full of fun memories of splashing around and foam party festivities, but three days later, it turned into a high fever and a week of being sick from herpangina. Could she have contracted it somewhere else? Sure, there’s always that chance. But the few times she swallowed pool water that’s possibly got more fecal matter than hygienically acceptable seems more likely to be the source of the infection.
Make sure your kids rinse off before and after swimming, and teach them to keep pool water out of their mouths (easier said than done, I know). If a pool looks murky or smells overly chemical-y, it’s probably best to skip it.
If you’re super adamant about seeing proof of whether a pool is up to standard or not, there are test strips you can purchase on Taobao that will give you results in minutes.
Swimming should be all about laughter and making memories, not trips to the doctor. So stay alert, pick your pools wisely, and have an awesome, safe summer splashing around!
If you’re looking for some great pools in Beijing where you can spend your time this summer, check out our list at the link below.
Images: Freepik, Douyin, Taobao
