Are swimming classes safe?

[FeelingJittery1]

I’ve got to sign my daughter for the upcoming term/ the usual swimming classes were where one or both parents sit and watch the children in the pool- there are 60/70 people at a given point due to various classes

Is this now deemed safe?

@Waxonwaxoff0 thank you - that is reassuring to know,
I guess you must be much younger than me? I’m 40 so I’m guessing more chance of complications…or my head says so

I'm about to turn 31 so yes younger than you, but 40 isn't old! I work in a factory and lots of people at my workplace in their 40s and 50s have had Covid, no one has been to hospital and everyone back to work after their isolation periods ended. One person did suffer with long term effects for a couple of months but recovered after a while, in his late 40s and very obese.

Op I am older than you (mid 40s) and in addition overweight and diabetic. I had positive test for covid (pre any vaccinations( and didn't even know I had it. Dh is 50, for him it was like having a cold. For both of us the side effects from the vaccine were worse than actual covid. Yes there is a chance that any if us could end up in hospital with covid but for you it is an overwhelmingly small one.
As for swimming, ds has been going regularly since September 2020 whenever restrictions allowed. There was no transmission at all amongst the class or swimming teachers during that time period. The difference now is that parents will be allowed in, changing rooms can be used etc. But if it makes you feel better why don't just you start with waiting in the car during the class and take child in and out in dressing gown at beginning and end like we've all been doing up till now. I'm sure some people will still be doing that at ours.

There are not going to be 60 parents spectating - there just aren’t. How many children are swimming at once anyway? It is usually 8-10 per class. So there are six classes running simultaneously, none are siblings, and all have a parent sitting poolside? Is this an Olympic pool or something? Or three classes and each child has brought their entire extended family to every lesson?

And all have disabilities so none are wearing masks? (Individual pools all seem to have retained that requirement - we go to one for swimming lessons and two others for fun swimming, all different providers, all enforce masks).

Honestly OP, people will all be in masks, there will be maybe ten people poolside plus the kids, you’ll probably have the option to wait elsewhere, it will be fine.

[quote FeelingJittery1]@Waxonwaxoff0 thank you - that is reassuring to know,
I guess you must be much younger than me? I’m 40 so I’m guessing more chance of complications…or my head says so[/quote]
With all due respect OP, it is not your head telling you that

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It's up to you to decide what level of risk/exposure you can tolerate. I doubt you will get the reassurance to the level you are seeking from this venue as many other people will be happy with the offering. It's up to you whether or not you want to sign up, and not up to the venue to calm your anxiety.

This is pretty much the reason I’m convince I’m going to catch this in September- and end up in the hospital like my dad is

If you're 'convinced' you're going to catch it then it doesn't matter what you do or don't do, does it?

I'm not sure what you want posters here to say to you. Perception of risk is highly subjective. Nothing in life is 'safe'.

@Remmy123 - absolutely no need to be so aggressive

@itsgettingwierd - not all swimming pools are very well ventilated. And does chlorine kill Covid in under 30 seconds or is that an urban myth?

But you are in a very different situation to your dad if he's recently had a by-pass? And will be what, 20-30 years older than you?! Completely different situation.

I'm 39 and obese. It's not an ideal situation. But I'm genuinely more scared about locking myself away and missing out on all the things that make my life worthwhile. And I don't want my children growing up scared. I want them to seize every day, and I have to set that example. Ive been in the police for 13 years and have seen too many examples of life cut short through things that you could never pre-empt or avoid. Life is short and its not safe, but it's for living, else what is the point?!

No OP, it is not and never will be totally ‘safe’ just like everything in life.

But your child needs to learn how to swim, so assuming you’re vaxxed, I suggest you crack on.

@TheKeatingFive I’ve only had the 1st dose- second one is not until another 4 weeks.

@10storeylovesong I understand what you are saying- yes my dad is 67 and I’m 40 so not the same age- but I’m terrified of ending up in a hospital

[quote FeelingJittery1]@TheKeatingFive I’ve only had the 1st dose- second one is not until another 4 weeks.[/quote]
I don't mean to sound harsh here - but your anxiety has caused you to be more at risk now than you need to be.

I am not that much older than you and I have been fully vaxxed for 2 months.

Been fully vaxxed makes the reopening so much easier.

You do need some support for you anxiety as it's probably impacting your children also.

@Wakeupin2022 yes I recognise that now- I’m not protected hence why I’m pretty sure I’ll get it.

I’ve made an appointment with a different gp but the appointment is next week-

The restrictions at my pool have eased but they've not disappeared altogether. We still have double lanes with fewer people in, but we can use the changing rooms now and there's no one-way system.

I'd be surprised if parents were crowding into a pool area.

I'm delaying swimming until next year and only doing outdoor for the reasons you give OP. Indoor transmission in the communal changing rooms....no thanks. It's an entirely preventable risk to not go at this point for me personally.

@Jobsharenightmare I did question whether I should defer to the next term but what’s the point? She can just as well catch it from school- and bring it home so we all catch it..

I would assume that there are going to be children in her class who might have unwell family members at home and they are essentially carriers..

Personally and again not being critical of anyone else's decisions, I'm trying to reduce opportunities to be exposed so still not having indoor contact with that many people, social distancing and avoiding busy places etc.

@Jobsharenightmare sorry I totally understand your point- what I meant was I was oscillating in my decision