Slowly there is bathing weather in Germany. To make visiting swimming pools and quarry ponds fun, we have listed a few myths for you and explain how much truth there is in them.

Well, have you gotten your swimming trunks or bikini out of the closet yet? The bathing season is slowly starting in the outdoor pools, on the lakes and coasts. But there are a few things to consider if you want to spend a day in the water safely and relaxed.

In order not to overload the circuit. When we get hot from the sun and get into the water, it puts a lot of strain on the circulatory system, says internist Matthias Riedl.

Because the cold water causes the blood vessels in the skin to contract, the blood moves more strongly into the body and into the overall circulation. “So there is a sudden redistribution,” says Riedl, who belongs to the Federal Association of German Nutritionists (BDEM) in Essen.

If there is also still a lot of blood in the abdomen because a meal is being processed, this redistribution is even stronger. In the worst case, this leads to a circulatory collapse.

“The three-point technique, where you lie on your back, has proven its worth,” says Carsten Bücken, chairman of the German Rennrutsch Verband (DRV) in Dissen (Lower Saxony). But only three parts of the body touch the slide, so that you can really pick up speed due to the low friction.

The feet are crossed so that only one heel touches the slide surface. The shoulder blades form the other two points of contact. The bottom is pushed up. Nothing works without body tension, says Bücken. “You put your arms above your head. Some also like to put their hands behind their necks because that gives them more control in the corners.”

The swimwear also influences the sliding speed. Tight swimming trunks are better than boxer shorts. By the way: There is a tip that you should pull your swimming trunks into the crevice in the buttocks to further reduce friction. “But that’s nonsense,” was the verdict of the skid-slide expert.

“You don’t normally have to worry in the local bathing waters,” says Alexander Paffrath from the Presidium of the German Life Saving Society (DLRG). However, before swimming in the lake, you should be aware that you could bump into aquatic plants or animals with your foot or stomach. “Because uncontrolled, hectic reactions due to panic are the real danger,” says Paffrath.

So if you are mentally prepared, you tend to stay calm – and if the worst comes to the worst, it is best to turn on your back to swim over water plants, for example.

“Better not,” says Prof. Björn Bachmann, senior physician at the Center for Ophthalmology at the University of Cologne. “But of course that’s not really possible if you have a certain prescription of glasses.” Then you should put on swimming goggles to keep your head above water.

Reason: There can be germs in the bath water, for example acanthamoeba. These are parasites that get into the cornea through tiny injuries and cause painful and long-lasting inflammation. Those who wear contact lenses are particularly at risk. This is because the cornea receives less oxygen and is more susceptible to injuries and infections.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the beach, in the open-air pool or at the lake: “You can catch skin fungus on your feet anywhere it’s damp – i.e. in showers or changing rooms,” says Martina Schmidt, Vice President of the German Podiatry Association.

Therefore, it is best to slip into flip-flops. And: After showering, you should take the time to dry the spaces between your toes well. Because the skin fungus finds good living conditions in these humid, warm regions, according to the podiatrist.