Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Recreational Water Illnesses
Memorial Day week traditionally marks the beginning of the summer swim season. To promote a safe and healthy swimming season, state and local health departments across the country work diligently to ensure proper pool operations and prevent recreational water illness. In Clermont County, the Health District licenses all swimming pools within the county on an annual basis, and conducts frequent inspections of the facilities. Bathing beaches are also inspected during the summer season. The Health District also performs disease surveillance to monitor for unexpected occurrences of illnesses typically associated with recreational water.
In recent years, an increasing number of outbreaks of recreational water illnesses (RWIs) have been identified and investigated both locally and throughout the nation. RWIs are illnesses spread by swallowing, breathing in vapors of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, water parks, spas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers or oceans. Water-borne organisms like Giardia, Shigella, E.coli 0157:H7, norovirus and Cryptosporidium (“crypto”), a chlorine-resistant parasite, are commonly identified as the source of outbreaks causing gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. Skin and respiratory symptoms can be caused by chemical imbalances in improperly maintained pools.
To increase awareness of these types of illnesses, the week before Memorial Day, May 18 – 24, 2009, has been designated as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week. The goal of this observance is to encourage healthy swimming behaviors to prevent both recreational water illnesses and injuries. The theme for this year’s RWI Prevention Week focuses on injuries associated with pool chemicals. Injuries associated with improper use of pool chemicals results in thousands of emergency room visits each year. Pool owners and operators can protect themselves and swimmers by taking these key steps:
- ALWAYS secure pool chemicals, keeping children and animals away.
- ALWAYS read product name and manufacturer’s directions before each use.
- ALWAYS use appropriate protective gear, such as safety glasses and gloves, when handling pool chemicals.
- NEVER mix chlorine products with each other, acid, or other substances.
The best way to prevent RWIs is to keep germs out of the pool in the first place. Everyone can help create healthy swimming experiences this summer by following these six healthy swimming steps:
- PLEASE don’t swim when you have diarrhea.
- PLEASE don’t swallow pool water.
- PLEASE practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- PLEASE take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
- PLEASE change diapers in the bathroom or diaper-changing area and not at poolside.
- PLEASE wash your children thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming.
Remember that awareness of these types of illnesses and the practice of healthy swimming behaviors play an important role in stopping disease transmission from person to person. Germs in and on swimmers’ bodies end up in the water and can make other people sick. Even healthy swimmers can get sick, but the young, elderly, pregnant women and immunosuppressed person are especially at risk. To make this summer a healthy swimming experience, the Health District and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge swimmers and pool owners/operators to follow these recommendations. Additional information on healthy swimming can be found at the CDC.
Healthy Swimming Brochure
Updated: 05/19/2009