5 Red Flags That Should Make You Turn Around Before Swimming In A Lake
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- Swimming in lakes requires caution as they often lack oversight and can harbor hidden dangers unlike regulated pools or monitored ocean beaches.
- Avoid lakes with visible green algal blooms or discolored water, as these can contain harmful toxins causing skin irritation, respiratory issues, or more severe symptoms.
- Stay out of murky or cloudy water since it may conceal sharp debris, pollutants, or bacterial contamination, posing health risks including swimmer’s itch.
- After heavy rainfall, lakes can be contaminated by stormwater runoff carrying fecal matter, pesticides, and industrial pollutants, so it is advised to wait up to 72 hours before swimming.
- Visible debris, floating trash, or foul odors such as sulfur or rotten smells are strong indicators that lake water
