Swimming is a great exercise and fun activity, yet it is about one of the most feared pastimes around. Many people who fail to learn the art of manoeuvring in water at a young age give up on ever getting to know it, and can only watch on as others have fun.

Have you ever watched someone with a much bigger body than yours swim so gracefully and wondered how they can manage to stay afloat, yet you cannot? Well, it is said that the first step towards learning how to swim is to get comfortable in the water. And perhaps the very first step towards gaining that comfort is getting a better understanding of swimming pools themselves.

• There are over 20 million swimming pools around the world

Yes, swimming is a pretty widespread practice around the world; so popular that you would be forgiven to feel as if you are the only one who doesn’t know how to flap in water. In the US alone, there are over ten million swimming pools. Now, given that no one ever uses a pool alone, you can imagine how many people are enjoying the dip!

Most pools are privately owned, but there are just enough public pools to go around for everyone.

• Pool treatment is actually a requirement

If you are a germ freak, you might actually see a pool of bacteria where everyone else sees a considerable volume of liquid fun. The pool system is a specialised installation that continually filters the water as it flows through the pump. Treatment of the water is actually a legal requirement, especially for public pools.

To guard yourself further, you could always apply protective creams before you venture into the water. You can look out for some sensitivities that you may have by checking with a health practitioner. If you click here, you can actually do that without having to visit the doctor. Instead, you get to talk to a General Practitioner from the renowned health app Livi, via your mobile phone.

• You can actually learn to swim on your own

Many people feel embarrassed when someone has to teach them something simple in their adulthood. You can actually bypass this embarrassment, and educate yourself how to swim.

The shallow end of the pool is not built for children or short people. Instead, it is a place where people can practice water comfort as they develop their swimming confidence.

• Every pool needs a lifeguard

Whether private or public, there should always be a lifeguard by a pool whenever it is in use. Humans are not wired to breathe in water; there should be someone to ensure they don’t have to do it against their will.

A pool should actually be in a restricted area so that it is not accessible by accident or in the absence of a guard.