There is nothing quite as relaxing as going for a nice, long swim. We often wait for our trip to the beach or the hotel swimming pool during vacations. We pack all the essentials; bikinis, swimming caps, goggles, and fluffy towels. But have you ever stopped to think about packing a pair of earplugs as well? This may very well be one of the most essential items that ought to be on your packing list.
When it comes to swimming, rarely do we think about protecting our ears, even though we go to great lengths to protect our eyes and even our hair! Protecting your ears may be one of the most important things before going for a swim.
Your ears don’t do very well underwater, since they are exposed to harmful bacteria, fungus, and most importantly, dangerous amounts of trapped moisture. Water can get trapped deep within your ears, which can lead to ear infections or swimmer’s ear due to rise in fungal as well as bacterial growth resulting from the accumulated moisture. Ear infections can be painful and uncomfortable; they can even result in hearing loss! You can easily avoid these problems by simply wearing a pair of earplugs to help keep the water safely away from your ears.
Earplugs do not necessarily have to be clumsy and ill-fitting. You can invest in a pair of customized earplugs to suit your ear’s unique contours. This can help them stay put in water and help prevent them from falling off while you swim. These earplugs are usually made of silicone and are very comfortable to wear. If you do not feel like investing in personalized earplugs, you can always opt for less costly, disposable ones which are easily available at your local drug store.
The best part about getting earplugs is that you can use them even when you are not swimming! Your ears need protection more often than you may realize. We expose ourselves to unsafe levels of sound each day without even realizing it. Be it that game you went to last weekend, or your favorite band’s music concert, your ears need protection before you expose them such loud levels of noise. You can even wear them at work if you work in noisy environments.
Earplugs are very versatile since they can also help prevent sweat from entering your ears when you do heavy yard work, while at the same time providing you with hearing protection. Always wear ear plugs before operating heavy machinery such as chainsaws, lawn mowers, and power drills.
Earplugs can help both adults as well as children in helping to keep their ears safe from moisture and unsafe levels of noise. This can help prevent infections and noise-induced hearing loss in the future. You can also keep your ears safe, clean and dry by using earplugs regularly. Remember to always insert them in dry ears with clean hands. After each use, clean them thoroughly and store them in a dry, air-tight container (unless you are using disposable ones, in which case you can simply throw them away after a single use). Keep yourself and your loved ones safe the next time you go swimming! Pack a pair of earplugs for each of you!