Swimmer's Daily

  • The feeling of having water inside your ears after a shower or some swimming can be quite uncomfortable and even painful if you have sensitive ears. Of course, you can try to tap the water out of your ear by tilting your head but doing that every time you swim can be quite annoying. This is the reason why we have to do something to prevent it and the best and easiest way to do this is by buying swimming earplugs. They are affordable and easily available, but is there anything you should know before you buy them? Let’s take a closer look at what you should pay attention to.

    ear plugs photo
    Image courtesy of 422737, Pixabay License Free for commercial use, No attribution required

    What to look for in quality earplugs?

    Choose the correct type of earplugs

    In our case, we want to buy swimming earplugs so choose ones specially designed for that. There are other types like earplugs for sleeping or shooting, but these are not designed to block out water.

    Pay attention to the fit and size

    If you are really into swimming, you can always get some custom earplugs that can be adjusted to the shape of your ears. On the other hand, you can choose disposable earplugs and they come only in one size. You should also pay attention to how easy is to put them into your ears. We say this because with some earplugs you will have to help your child in case they fall out.

    Is Color Important?

    You may think that the color of the earplugs is just a decoration. Well, keep this in mind – in case they fall out it will be easier to find them if they are brightly colored.

    Build Materials

    Most often when we buy earplugs for swimming, we will buy silicone ones. They are affordable and great for children because they can put them in on their own in case they fall out. However, this material is like putty and it can collect dirt or earwax so we don’t recommend them.

    There are also earplugs made of soft plastics and rubber. They are washable, but they can contain latex which is not good for people with allergies.

    Take care of the shape

    There are conical earplugs with ribs, just like an accordion. These ribs fold in when you put the earplugs into the ears and form a barrier against water and at the same time, they block our noise. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about noise protection. Noise blocking is great since you can also use them for sleeping. However, they can easily fall out once they lose suction. There are also ergonomic earplugs which are very comfortable and fit the ear perfectly.

    5 Best Earplugs for Swimming: What we like and don’t like

    Mack’s AquaBlock Swimming Earplugs

    The good sides of these earplugs are that they are made from silicone. They are reusable, washable and there is a carry bag included. There are four colors to choose from and as a huge bonus there is a one-year warranty.

    What we don’t like about them is that they are not for children.

    Speedo Ergo Swimming Earplugs

    These earplugs are molded from rubber, affordable, and easy to use.  They are ergonomically designed and extremely comfortable.  They come with a case and they are produced by a popular brand.

    We don’t like the fact that they come in one size and color only. Because of the size, they are not for children and wearing a swimming cap with them can be a problem.

    TYR Silicone Molded Earplugs

    The thing we like about these earplugs is the carrying case, they are silicone molded, washable and can fir several ear sizes. They come in two colors to choose from.

    What we don’t like is that they are not for children and can’t be used interchangeably.

    Putty Buddies Original Swimming Earplugs

    These earplugs are made from silicone. They are affordable and comfortable. You can use them more than once and are not limited to one ear size.

    What we don’t like is that in order for children to use them they will need the help of an adult. Also, if you are wearing a swimming cap you won’t be able to use these.

    Walgreens Soft Silicone Earplugs

    One pack contains six pairs which is excellent. They are made from silicone and you can use them interchangeably. They are not for adults only; they can be used by children as well. They block noise partially and there is a money-back guarantee offered by the manufacturer.

    What we don’t like is that they come in one color only, children will need an adult to use them and they aren’t washable.

    To sum things up

    Having problems with your ears is definitely something we don’t want. That is the reason why we have to do everything to protect them while enjoying swimming for example. Buying some good quality earplugs is an affordable and effective way to do that. In the end, it really doesn’t matter how much they cost, what are they made from, or whether they are custom-molded or come in one size. What matters is that they fit you well and do their job

    Guest post by Chris Howard

  • While the coronavirus pandemic is far from over, some U.S. states have decided to reopen as soon as… well, right now Georgia was the first to ease restrictions, with businesses like gyms and salons opening FridayMichigan will soon follow suit, following protests from residents.

    Reopening worries some citizens, medical professionals, and elected officials, but one Florida man is dedicated to doing what he can to flatten the curve. Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder said he will tour the state’s beaches on May 1 to remind fellow Floridians to stay home.

     

    Read Mashable

    reaper photo
    Photo by Pot Noodle

     

  • Humans came from dust, says Ecclesiastes.

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    Read or listen to NPR

    swimming photo
    Image courtesy of Pexels, Pixabay License Free for commercial use, No attribution required

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    Read ILSF and the official letter which mentions also the postponement of the General Assembly, and which has a grim prediction of how also 2021 will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:

    The ILS Elective General Assembly and associated meetings planned to be held at LWC 2020
    will now be held prior to the ILS World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2021 in Colombo Sri
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    It was agreed to postpone the LWC 2020 to 2022 and not to 2021. The reasons are:

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    • It is not likely that a medication or a vaccine will be available for at least a year to 18 months.
    • Until that time, continued movement restrictions will likely still be in force in 2021.
    • There is already a crowded global sporting calendar in 2021 because so many events are being rescheduled to the second half of that year.
    • Many ILS Member Federations are already reporting that their income streams have been seriously affected. It will take much of 2021 to recover their losses and they will not be able to afford to travel to an LWC that takes place in 2021.
    • There is also another major ILS event in 2021, namely the World Conference on Drowning Prevention. The Conference will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka in early October 2021.
    • The host federation, Italy, also needs time to recover financially from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic so that it can deliver the rescheduled events.
    • If an LWC event was rescheduled to 2021, and 2022 was maintained in Morocco, there could be an adverse impact on both events as participants may not be able to afford to attend both events in relatively quick succession
    riccione photo
    Photo by Simone Lovati

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