140 Hawaii Parent March/April 2026 ear. But, thankfully, it can also be easily prevented. “Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. The most common symptom is redness, but most of the time you’ll know you have swimmer’s ear because your outer ear will hurt,” Smith describes. “In some cases, the inner ear may also hurt and can be associated with a feeling of fullness.” Fortunately, in Smith’s five-plus years as a swim instructor, she has only had one of her hundreds of students experience a swimmer’s ear infection. Prevention includes thoroughly drying the ears after swimming using a towel (not Q-Tips). “If you are prone to ear infections you can wear earplugs and a swim cap which covers your ears while you swim; these two combined will give your ears great protection while swimming,” Smith advises. Supervise Keiki in the Water Even if your child is an expert swimmer, they should never be swimming alone and should always be supervised by an adult to minimize water risks. “If your children are trained to wait for permission to enter the water, there are fewer chances for lack of supervision since you’ll know when they’re in the water,” says Smith. “Also, always swim with a buddy!” Follow Pool Rules Review the list of rules posted at the pool with your child. Ask them why they think each rule is important and what the possible implications of not following the rule might be. Smith expands on a few common pool rules, “Many condo pools are very shallow, and have rules, such as
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