AIBU swimming

Ziggy 62, You poor love yes definitely report it to the leisure centre. Some of these swimmers think they own the pool! A case of look at me don't swim just look aren't a I wonderful is their idea. The only times you should be careful is if you have a blind swimmer in the pool. I use to go regularly many years ago and this marvellous chap used to bomb down the first lane of the pool. Think he must have counted the length in strokes but by the looks of him got it wrong sometimes. Any 'newby was alerted to the fact you just didn't swim in that lane until he'd got out for safety sake, yours':-)

If you can afford it, I'd try and join a health Club or hotel with a pool. I think I pay about £60 a month, off peak - weekdays between 6am and 4pm. It suits me perfectly. This includes use of a 20m pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. Plus there is a studio which houses lots of different classes and two different gyms. I basically only go to swim and often give it a miss in the school holidays as it can get busy with little ones and they don't swim in straight lines!! But the rest of the facilities are available. A friend was a bit sniffy about the expense but it's so worth it to me. Not just for the exercise but it makes me get out and chatting to others and I always come home feeling so much better. Trying to get DH to join the gym for the Winter months when he can't go bowling.

I love swimming and I am a regular pool user. However, I have had to change pools recently. While attending with young grandchildren all under 5 years old, an unaccompanied young male twice lunged at one of my grandchildren. I complained in writing. Their answer - he was allowed to be in the water unaccompanied so as to give him independence. They admitted he was autistic with behavioural problems. They were sorry we did not enjoy our swim that day! Unbelievable!

twiglet77

I feel very strongly that there should be a dedicated lane for backstroke, and the selfish swimmers that think it’s acceptable to power along without a care as to who they’ll hit can jolly well crash into each other.

I agree

I feel very strongly that there should be a dedicated lane for backstroke, and the selfish swimmers that think it’s acceptable to power along without a care as to who they’ll hit can jolly well crash into each other.

Correction - more than one lane available

Sorry you have concussion Ziggy but glad you got it checked out. You have more than enough reason now to complain to the pool, they may even know who the culprit is if he is a regular and someone can have a word with him about his swimming style, but at the very least they need more than on be lane available and a lifeguard with ‘eyes on’ at all times and a ready whistle.

Ah, Ziggy62, I was just about to post that I hoped your absence from the thread all day was that you had gone to A&E. I am so glad you did.

The other way your visit will help is that, if you had to go to hospital and have a formal diagnosis of concussion, the Leeisure Centre need to treat your complaint very seriously.

Meanwhile, have a good night's sleep and a long lie in.

If the symptoms get worse, do not hesitate to go back to A&E.

I hope that you soon feel better ziggy. Due to problems with my back I can only swim backstroke, which I don’t enjoy. I have actually given up going swimming because the pool is always busy and it’s so hard to swim on your back unless you have a lane to yourself! It’ was very inconsiderate of that person to be swimming on their back when other people are around.

Went to A&E, apparently I have mild concussion and was given pain killers and muscle relaxant to help with neck/shoulder pain. Told to rest for 5 days, so have cancelled work for this week, although I don't feel fit to work anyway
I've filled in online complaints form about what happened yesterday
Thank you for replies, I'm having an early night and hoping I'll feel better in a day or 2

Aggresive swimmers, usually male, young and older, can be very off putting in a pool. I love to swim and so used to book a place with a pool when going abroad, now I don't bother after boys and men dive bombing and generally horsing around in the pool, despite signs round the pool saying not to. Is a shame that these inconsiderate people spoil other people's fun.
I only ever swim in the sea these days, at least that is big enough for me to find a quiet spot.

I swim regularly and my pool usually has three lanes. It sounds as if your pool is not very well run. I too think you should complain then the pool can look at what they should be doing to make the pool safer for everyone. I hope you are ok and get over your shock. But don’t let this put you off swimming! X

My membership includes use of other hilton tools, gyms and some classes

Sorry , should read "Hilton POOLS"

Only one lane open for general swimming is what sounds unreasonable to me.

Is there another time when you can go and when there is more space for ordinary swimmers?

Hope you are feeling better today.

I also stopped swimming for that reason , people haring up behind me with absolutely no thought for anyone else - always a man ! Worse than driving on the motorway!!!
I took a swim only membership at a local hotel spa - much more sedate but much more expensive? That has now lapsed , if I go on a pay as you go basis the cost is £18 a session!!!!! So will stick to my aqua fit classes.
I hope you are recovering , but I agree a trip to A &E is advised.

Mine is a Hilton hotel pool part of "Livingwell"

www.livingwell.com/

My membership includes use of other hilton tools, gyms and some classes.
I like that they provide towels too! This is a real boon in the winter!

Might be worth looking.

Report it, then they can check to see why the lifeguard did not notice it, and make sure provision is in place to prevent it happening again.

I do hope you are ok. I would get it checked out.

I stopped going swimming locally for this very reason.
Local pool mostly block booked out daily by local schools which is fair enough but when it is open to the general public it is Lane marked.

Fast lane in a clockwise = too fast for me.
Middle lane, also clockwise = the lane I did use but became a pain, literally, as mostly used by men (always older men) who only seem to be able to swim backstroke and have no idea of anyone else's personal swimming space. I've been whacked a fair few times with flailing arms and legs and no apology as they dont even realise what theyve done.
Slow lane = too slow, full of older ladies (of which I am one) who 'swim' (walk) 2 or 3 abrest talking the whole time.

It became a minefield so I stopped going

So sorry to hear this, the other swimmer was negligent, going at such a rate without being able to see others swimming nearby. And it might be for the best, as others have said to go to A&E or try to get an appointment with your GP. Sounds horrible. I imagine the shock of it was as bad as your injuries. That swimmer should watch out, he was lucky he didn’t knock you out in which case you would have been at risk of drowning. Why swim so furiously when us just one lane open?
Would definitely find the phone number of your swimming pool and complain, this should not be allowed to happen again. X

Sorry to hear about your experience Ziggy and hope you’re feeling better today. Definitely report it in writing to the leisure centre management and hand deliver it, as postal services are so unreliable. You didn’t report it at the time as you were in shock and in pain. You need this exercise, so I would suggest you look for another local pool. 💐

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I’m not a fan of lane swimming, the slow lanes can be too slow, and the faster ones too fast, (sounds like Goldilocks and the 3 bears).

Am surprised only 1 lane available.

Can you go any other time, or is there a General Swim at all, when there are no lanes?

The lifeguard should have seen the incident, and the chap who doesn’t swim but shouts up to them is another issue. Preventing others having a decent swim is not on really, despite how he is. Can understand why you tried a different time.

The pool management need to be aware of all these issues, cannot just be you who notices them.

Do go to Aand E you really should have gone yesterday it can be delayed and it’s really no reason to not want to sit there a long time
I definitely think the pool needs informing it really isn’t on to be doing a stroke where you can’t see obstacles and he needed telling and the life guard should have been looking at him if he was speeding along amongst others
(That’s why I love the sea no one usually to bump into but that’s a facetious remark not everyone is near the sea)
Hope you’re ok

Yes, vomiting following a head injury needs to be checked out. I am sorry you had this expereince but things like this are what stopped me going to my local leisure centre and I now only swim occasionally with my grandkids in a leisure pool.
The hotel suggestion is a very good one- years ago you could get a card that allowed you access to hotel facilities at quiet times. I'm not sure if you can still get them.
We also have a private pool nearby but it tends to be booked up by regulars and I haven't yet been able to book a slot.
I hope you're recovered soon and don't give up the swimming- maybe you should look around for a more suitable one for you.

First and foremost go to A&E IMMEDIATELY. It sounds as if you have concussion, so you need a brain scan and you need to be monitored.

Concussion isn't immediate, it can come on gradually over several days. A friend of mins was fine for 3 days after bahging her head, in a slow speed car accident, and then deteriorated suddenly and didn't get back to work for over 2 years.

Once you have received the medical examination you urgently need. Get your DH to go back to the sports centre on your behalf tell them what happened and that you are now being treated for concussion. You can follow this up with a letter.

But your DH was right. You need to go to A&E. Please do immdiately.

Have you got a local hotel with a pool?

I have found ours to be a kinder environment on the whole and open all day so not just in timeslots.

It's more expensive and smaller than the town pool but warmer and it suits me. The members are encouraging and I feel less negative about going.

Sorry you're not feeling very positive at the moment.