A swim in a cool river or in a lake in the middle of an expanse of nature, who wouldn't want that? But it is better to take a few precautions before diving in head first. Bacteria can be present there… as in the Bassin de la Villette which, barely opened, has been closed due to a number of bacteria that can cause urinary and intestinal infections. Yippee…
Thus, we avoid swimming in open water when we have wounds or acne, because bacteria can nest there very easily. We also avoid putting the head under water so that these same bacteria do not enter through the nose, mouth or ears. Then as at the seaside, we rinse with clear water as soon as we get out of the water, in order to remove as many bad things as possible (bacteria, toxic waste, viruses, etc.). Since 2016, the Blue Flag label has made it possible to know the healthy and safe places in France. It lists more than 400 healthy bathing places and therefore makes it possible to know the places where the water for bathing is safe. The criteria are simple:water quality, waste management, surrounding environment... and ensure peaceful swimming. We therefore do not hesitate to consult the dedicated site in order to obtain information upstream (the site is updated very regularly).
Happy swimming!
