Nothing could be the fun that comes from swimming in the open ocean! Just things, you and the sea beauty, you just threw yourself into the womb of the sea mother! How do you are feeling? It’s an eternal feeling, that everybody cannot feel! So you are in full swing, a few seconds far to dip your legs in the seawater! Awe, wait, are you missing something?
What about the wound you are suffering in your body? Having a wound that does not mean you can’t make fun with the splash of water in the deep ocean! Yes, you can swim even with your body wound as well. But you have to take safety precautions so that the wound healing process does not disrupt by the salty bacterial water, or by the chlorinated water.
It is mandatory to know How to waterproof a wound for swimming before you jump into the water with your healing wound. Let’s discuss the waterproofing process of the wounds in detail-
Why Do You Need to Cover Wounds When Swimming
Safety is the major thing whether you swim with your wounds or not. Especially when you jump in the water, you are not facing the water only. There are also some other living things, like bacteria (some of them again flesh eaters too) and fungus. Water debris and other sea hazards also exist there. As already your wound is an open sensitive place, so this open place could be a great residence for the sea bacteria.
These bacteria will attack the open place, and eat the infected flesh, thus making the total wound very horrible. Ultimately the wound healing process is delayed, sometimes the fresh wound does not heal properly too! Not only the bacteria, but the salt water also is an enemy for the open wound. Salt water not only directly attacks here, gives you a feel of just like your wound is burning, a non-tolerable feel! Also, contacting the saltwater gives you a delay in wound healing.
The open wound needs to take care of it and needs to keep it clean. When you swim in the water, whether in seawater or pool water, both cases you have a severe chance to contaminate your wound with sea bacteria, and chlorinated pool water. So if you don’t cover the wound, it will worsen depending on, how long you are staying in the water, and the water condition (how is the water, how hazardous exactly are contaminating here, etc.).
Therefore to avoid the upcoming severity of the wounded place, and to avoid the injury-the wound needs to be properly sealed before you are going to get a splash of water, or swim.
Things to Consider about Your Wounds Before Swimming
Several things come in front before you swim with a wound that is already in a healing process. Factors like the wound age, the severity of the wound, type of the water you are going to swim on which, the duration of your swim, how about your body’s immunity-all together determines how you could swim either in the swimming pools, open water (river/ocean/pond), etc.
It is better to consult with your doctor before you dive into the water with a wounded body. A small wound or a wound nearly to heal doesn’t need a doctor’s consultation. However, you own can cover these with a water masking agent. But the fresh wound or the severe wound needs to take special care-therefore doctor consultancy is a must if you want to swim with it.
How to Waterproof a Wound for Swimming
You can use waterproof plasters, and waterproof bandages to cover the wound before starting the swim. But by covering the wound with any of these masking items, you have to clean the wound very carefully. Cleaning the wound area will ensure there will be no outsider bacteria going to trapped under the mask, further which can make the scenario worse.
So how to clean the wound? Only fresh water is not enough to clean the wound. You have to use any antibacterial spray/ antibacterial wipe to clean the wound. Just be gentle to apply anything on the wound, and also be sure you have sanitized your hands before the cleaning process. However once the cleaning is done, let the wound dry for a few minutes. As you already have sprayed the antibacterial solutions here, so now it is sanitized, will not be food for the air-floating bacteria.
So once the wound area is clean and dry, now use any waterproof agent to cover it. You will get various types, and sizes of waterproof plaster at your nearby market. Depending on the wound size, you can take any of these.
Just be sure your wound is covered properly and that no wrinkles are making surrounding the wound. Wrinkles not only impact the skin but also there is a chance to water invade (with the bacteria) through the free space of the wrinkles. Selecting the proper waterproof plaster is a must. Depending on the wounded area special masking tape also is available.
Like if your fingers have a wound, you can make it waterproof using waterproof fingertip plasters. So depending on the injury size, and where this injury has been made- you will get specific wound masking tape.
When Not to Swim with a Wound
Though we are covering how to swim with a wound, still there are some wound situations that never allow you to go into the water.
- Do not swim with open wounds
- Do not swim if the wound is bleeding
- Do not swim if still there is redness, swelling
- Do not swim when your wound has the stitch
- If the wound has a chance to be contaminated with open water bacteria or chlorinated pool water, avoid swimming.
- When you are wounded on your head and face, never dare to swim.
- Do not swim with your wounded eyes
- Do not swim with your ear infection.
- Do not swim if you could not cover the wound with a waterproof agent.
FAQs
Do waterproof bandages work in the pool?
Yes, waterproof bandages work only if the wound is not severe that much! The main aim of such a bandage is to cover the wound from contaminated water and bacteria. If you could choose the perfect band-aid/bandages-it will work obviously.
Can I swim with a healing wound?
You can! But you have to cover the wound with a waterproof plaster or waterproof bandage. Lots of waterproof plasters are available in the pharmacy, depending on your wound area, and wound size. Just pick any of these and prepare yourself for the swim.
Should you swim in a pool with an open wound?
No, you should not! Swimming with an open wound will make the wound, even more, worse, and also make the healing process lengthy a lot!
How do you cover a wound to make it waterproof?
I use a first aid band if I got a silly wound on my finger! Otherwise, to cover other body wounds, I use waterproof plasters or waterproof bandages. But before covering the wound, I wipe the area with a paper towel and apply the antiseptic cream.
In a Nutshell
If the wound is not severe enough, you can use waterproof plaster to cover the wound area and can swim in any of your preferred water. But we do not suggest the person swim if he or she has a fresh wound or severe wound. However, nobody can stop a dreamer to dream, that way nobody can stop your fun if you are determined to swim with your wound.
All we want to say is, before the water contact, know How to waterproof a wound for swimming and make you risk-free.
That all!