Safety
Is It Safe to Go in the Water? Understanding Waterborne Illnesses
Who doesn't enjoy a dip in the pool? But did you know that sometimes pool water can carry harmful bacteria and germs? Find out how to protect your family.
In the past, parents weren't as concerned about the safety of the water in which we swim. Families flocked to lakes, reservoirs, and pools to enjoy a cool swim or to get some exercise. But today there are new germs that can contaminate water and cause illness.
Learn about new information concerning recreational water illnesses (RWIs), which are spread by swimming in contaminated recreational waters such as swimming pools, water parks, lakes, and the ocean, and find out how you can protect your family from getting sick.
What are Recreational Water Illnesses?
RWIs are caused by germs like Crypto (KRIP-toe), short for Cryptosporidium, Giardia (gee-ARE-dee-uh), E. coli 0157:H7, and Shigella (Shi-GE-luh), and are spread by accidentally swallowing water that has been contaminated with fecal matter.
So, how does a pool get contaminated? You share the water with everyone in the pool. If someone who's recently suffered from diarrhea contaminates the water, swallowing the water can make you sick.
Before you panic and throw away the swimsuits and beach towels forever, there's some good news. Germs causing RWIs are killed by chlorine; however, chlorine takes time to kill germs, and some germs like Cryptare are chlorine resistant and can live in pools for days. This is why even the best-maintained pools can spread illness.
More good news: with healthy swimming behaviors, you and your kids can prevent becoming infected from RWIs and help stop germs from getting in the pool in the first place.
Here are six pointers that promote healthy swimming:
For All Swimmers
- Please don't swim when you have diarrhea. This is especially important for kids in diapers. Swimming with diarrhea can spread the germs into the water and make other people sick.
- Please don't swallow the pool water. Try your best to avoid even having water get in your mouth.
- Please wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or after changing diapers. You can protect others by being aware that germs on your body end up in the water.
For Parents with Young Kids
- Please take your kids on bathroom breaks often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.
- Please change diapers in a bathroom and not poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool and spread illness.
- Please wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. We all have invisible amounts of fecal matter on our bottoms that end up in the pool.
This information was printed with permission from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Related Content:
Related Links
- Article: Secondhand Smoking and Children
- Advice: When Is SIDS No Longer a Risk?
- Slideshow: Mom-Tested: Best Sun Safety Gear for Babies & Toddlers
- Quiz: How Safe Is Your Home?
- Poll: Has your child ever been lost?
Free BabyZone Tools
Get Full Access Now!
- Personalized Calendars & Weekly Emails
- Interactive Tools & Resources
- FREE Stuff & Special Deals
Free Stuff Picks
Great Deals & Free Stuff
Get discounts on baby formula, win FREE diapers and more. Check out these amazing offers now!
Take me to BabyZone Free Stuff
