Water Safety Tips to Prevent Illness -- 6.10.2011
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH – Press Release
For Friday, June 10
Columbus Public Health Offers Water Safety Tips to Prevent Illness
Safety Precautions Lead to Healthier and Safer Summer
Beautiful summer weather marks the opening of most recreational pools and the beginning of summer swimming season. With the recent spike in temperatures, the season looks to be busy. But in the midst of the summer fun, lies the potential to get sick from the water you swim in.
“Swimmers who are ill with diarrhea may contaminate swimming water in pools and spas,” says Columbus Public Health Medical Director Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams. “While this poses a health risk for healthy swimmers, it is especially threatening to young children, elderly, pregnant women and people with unhealthy immune systems.”
While Chlorine kills all germs, it takes time to work. A few germs can survive in chlorinated water for several hours to several days, so even the best-maintained pools can spread illness.
To prevent the spread of illnesses, Dr. LeMaile-Williams offers these helpful tips:
- Don’t swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
- Don’t swallow pool water and avoid getting it in your mouth.
- Shower before swimming. Germs on your body can end up in the water.
- Take bathroom breaks or change diapers often. Waiting to hear your child say “I have to go” may mean it’s too late.
- Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool.
- Wash your hands carefully with soap and water before swimming and after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Invisible amounts of fecal matter can end up in the pool.
Columbus Public Health inspects all of the different pools around the city, and residents can find those reports on the public health web site at “Inspection Results Online” at www.publichealth.columbus.gov.