Pool Season Has Arrived
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH – Press Release
FOR THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Pool Season has Arrived!
Having Fun While You Swim Means Preventing Illness and Injury
Many area pools will open this Memorial Day weekend, and the predicted hot and sultry weather promises to jumpstart the summer swimming season. While a trip to the pool is great exercise and fun, a few safety tips can help prevent Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) and injuries.
RWIs are caused by swallowing water contaminated with germs such as Crypto, Shigella, E. coli and Norovirus. The bugs can cause upset stomach and diarrhea, and pose the greatest risk to young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with a compromise immune systems.
Chlorine does not kill germs instantly. And once germs are in the pool, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to days for chlorine to kill them.
To prevent the spread of RWIs, all swimmers should practice three steps:
• Don’t swim when you have diarrhea.
• Don’t swallow pool water – and, avoid getting it in your mouth.
• Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Additional safety steps for parents of young kids include:
• Wash your child thoroughly, especially the rear end, with soap and water before swimming.
• Check diapers every 30-60 minutes. Change diapers in a bathroom or diaper changing area and not by the pool.
• Take kids on bathroom breaks every 60 minutes. Waiting to hear “I have to go” may mean it’s too late.
In addition to illnesses, injuries such as drowning and slips, trips and falls can also occur in or around water.
To prevent drowning, the leading cause of injury death for kids 1-4-years-old:
• Everyone – adults and kids – should know how to swim.
• Caregivers should know CPR.
• All boaters and weaker swimmers should use lifejackets.
• Backyard swimming pools should be separated from the house and yard by a self-closing and self-latching fence.
“These simple safety tips can protect your health and improve your life this swimming season,” says Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long. “And, last but not least, always remember to wear sunscreen every time you’re at the pool or outside to protect your skin.”
-30-