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Children's health

Took DS swimming this evening and his lips turned really dark purple - but the water wasnt terribly cold. Should I worry?

11 replies

hereidrawtheline · 06/07/2009 18:14

DS is almost 3, we went swimming, he hasnt been for a year. He had a fab time and was doing so well and just loved it but I suddenly realised his lips were vivid purple! I called the lifeguard over and asked if there were any chemicals in the water that would cause that and she said no, that it was cold. So we got out, and they are much more normal now, cherry with just a little tinge of purple, and of course he is dressed in warm clothes.

Is that a normal reaction in a pool where the water is pretty much room temp?

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sweetfall · 06/07/2009 18:17

doesn't sound like it was room temp to me

but it does sound like a normal reaction to cold - and small children are far more susceptible to it

maybe you should take him to a baby pool which tend to be warmer next time or not stay in as long?

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mummytopebs · 06/07/2009 18:19

My dd who is 4 went swimming last week when the temp was 90 degrees outside, the water felt warm but when she got out her lips were blue maybe when they are just used to it being a bit warmer outside x If you are concerned i would check it over with nhs direct

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hereidrawtheline · 06/07/2009 18:19

yes we had been in about 45 mins in total. When we first got in he said "oh its lovely and warm!" and I never felt actually cold. It was really confusing and upsetting. When we left the pool he was shaking, but not while we were in the water. He kept saying more, more, he just loved it.

We dont have a baby pool in our village, just this little pool at the secondary school, but there is a pool about a 20 min bus ride away that has one I think.

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hereidrawtheline · 06/07/2009 18:20

i meant to say his preschool is attached to the school and they use it for the preschool children to have lessons in!

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sweetfall · 06/07/2009 18:21

I would only be concerned if it happened frequently when there was no obvious cause - in which case I'd just get a GP to check him over tbh.

How was CAHMs by the way? (that was you wasn't it? )

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sweetfall · 06/07/2009 18:23

it's a very sensible physical reaction if you think about it - the blood rushes away from extremities to protect the internal organs where it's needed

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hereidrawtheline · 06/07/2009 18:29

I was on hold with nhs direct they are very busy with swine flu so I hung up thinking I probably shouldnt worry.

CAHMS was ok really, pretty good! We have several sessions coming up for further investigation and also we are in contact now with BIBIC

DH said the same thing about it being a sensible reaction

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ElfOnTheTopShelf · 06/07/2009 18:33

My lips go purple in the cold. Even in warm weather, my lips look blue, gets really embarassing!

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jeee · 06/07/2009 18:39

When I taught swimming, all the boys had blue lips (and hands down their trunks, but that's a different issue).

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Horton · 06/07/2009 19:02

I used to go blue at the extremities when swimming up until I was about 10 or 11. Occasionally the circulation used to cut off to my fingers and they'd go white. Frightened the life out of my mum, but it didn't seem to do me any harm. She always took me out if I got cold.

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hereidrawtheline · 06/07/2009 19:53

well glad it doesnt mean he has some deep physical flaw that will randomly stop his heart beating as clearly that is where I was headed in my mind thanks

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