Summer is hot, and many people choose to go swimming to cool off. However, for beginners, they often experience the phenomenon of water entering their ears due to their lack of swimming skills. Having too much water in the ears can be very uncomfortable. So what should you do if water enters your ears while swimming?
One-legged jumping to drain the water
If water enters one ear, tilt your head to that side as much as possible, so that the ear with water is facing the ground. Then lift one leg and jump forcefully. This is because water has gravity, and it is easier for water to flow out of the ear canal when you jump on one leg.
External ear cleaning method to remove water
Gently insert a clean cotton swab into the ear with water, being careful not to touch the eardrum. When you feel the cotton swab touching the water in the ear, slowly remove the cotton swab. Use a new cotton swab to continue cleaning until you no longer hear buzzing in your ear and no longer feel echoes when people speak. This indicates that the water in your ear has been cleaned out.
Water suction method to clean the water
Tilt your head to the side with water in the ear, press your palm against the ear, hold your breath, and quickly lift your palm. Repeat this pressing motion several times, and gradually the water in the ear will be sucked out. Another method is to tilt your head to the side without water entering the ear, pour water into the ear with water, and then let the ear with water face the ground. Jump a few times to allow the water to flow out due to gravity.
Movement of the external ear canal to remove water
When water enters the ear, continuously open and close your mouth, move your temporomandibular joint, or pull the auricle to keep the skin of the external ear constantly moving. This will cause the water in the ear to flow, and gradually it will flow out of the external ear canal. Alternatively, you can continuously press your palm against the ear, making sure to apply force, and then quickly release it to use suction to remove the water from the ear.
After the water drains, do not neglect ear hygiene
After the remaining water in the ear has drained, you should not neglect further cleaning. Sometimes there may be more earwax in the ear, and a small amount of dirty water may still remain in the ear canal. If not cleaned in time, it can easily cause ear inflammation. Therefore, after taking a shower, it is best to drop three to six drops of medicinal alcohol into the ear canal to absorb excess moisture. After allowing the alcohol to stay for a moment, let it drain out on its own. This can have an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect.
How to prevent water from entering the ears before swimming
It is best to have a physical examination before swimming. If there is earwax in the external ear canal, it is best to clean it in time to avoid ear pain and inflammation caused by the swelling of the earwax. If you have otitis media and perforated eardrums, it is best not to swim to avoid dirty water entering the ears and worsening the inflammation. It is recommended to protect the ears by tightly plugging the external ear canal with a cotton ball dipped in petroleum jelly.
