Swimming: The source of many illnesses
Most kids’ favorite summer activity is swimming, no matter if it’s splashing in a small backyard pool, or on the beach of a five-star resort. But the reality is that no fun activity is totally safe and healthy. For information on water safety, see TenTips: Waterfront. For avoiding illnesses from the water, read below – and hope that other parents do the same.
The number of illnesses related to swimming and other recreational water activities is increasing, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Such illnesses are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with microorganisms in the water of swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. The most common illness is diarrhea – with infants and children especially susceptible.
1. Teach infants and young children not to swallow water.
Infants have yet to develop immunity to specific organisms that are sometimes present in recreational water. These organisms may cause diarrhea, upper respiratory infections, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and swimmer’s ear. Even at well-maintained pools, children who place their heads under water experience more cases of diarrhea than children who merely wade. Swallowing just a few organisms can cause illness.
2. Decide if a swimming facility is well-maintained.
Admittedly this is difficult to do. Good facilities have sophisticated filtration and chlorination equipment and test water frequently for organisms. Speak to the person in charge. Many public lakes, ponds and oceans are monitored by local health departments. If so, reports should be available. For backyard pools, do the owners know how to maintain their pool?
3. Look for factors which increase the chances of water being contaminated.
These include very hot weather, lots of people in the water, infants in diapers, small backyard pools, and natural bodies of water on private land. Chlorine evaporates in heat. The more people at a facility, the greater the risk of contamination. Infants do not control their bowel movements. Backyard pools and private ponds, lakes and streams are often poorly or not at all checked for contamination.
4. Clear water in ponds, streams, lakes and oceans is certainly better than murky water.
But not necessarily proof that the water is safe. Risks of contamination increase after heavy rains, especially near storm drains with runoffs from streets, for example. In the wilderness, bodies of water may be contaminated by birds, animals or industrial facilities far away.
5. Showering with soap before swimming is good hygiene.
But, regrettably, this is not a common practice. Showering removes diarrhea-causing organisms from the skin, especially after using the toilet. Keep children (and adults) with intestinal illnesses out of the water – and hope other parents do the same.
6. Infants in diapers are a common cause of contaminated swimming facilities.
One stool can contaminate an entire large pool. Special “baby pools” are only beneficial if they have separate chlorination and filtration systems, which is frequently not the case. Change diapers in diaper-changing area, if present, or far from swimming facilities to prevent fecal organisms from spreading to other surfaces and reaching the water. Special swim diapers are not leak-proof and not a substitute for good hygiene.
7. Allow children to use hot tubs only when you can be reasonably sure that the facility is optimally maintained.
Warm water inactivates chlorine more rapidly than cold water. Many organisms thrive in warm environments. Severe rashes after bathing in a hot tub may require medical treatment. Ask the pool manager about the disinfectant and pH testing programs used.
8. Be vigilant at interactive fountains and water parks, too.
These include water sprays, dancing water jets, waterfalls, and rides with lots of splashing, to mention just a few. Such facilities cause many outbreaks of diarrhea, says the CDC. Water is often re-circulated and not adequately disinfected. Strong sprays may dislodge fecal organisms from the skin. Small children try to catch spraying water in their mouths.
9. Don’t forget the sun.
Outdoor water-related facilities are common sites of severe sunburns with infants and young children especially vulnerable. Water, sand and concrete reflect most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays shortening the time required to burn. The rays penetrate about a foot under the water’s surface, exposing swimmer’s backs. Water and perspiration reduce the effective protective time of sunscreens. And a wet, white cotton T-shirt provides almost no protection. See TenTips: Sun for information on adequately protecting your child.
10. Whenever your children are ill, inform your healthcare providers if they have been swimming recently.
This alerts the providers to look for specific illnesses. Also, if healthcare providers see many cases of a specific illness from the same swimming facility they can report it to local health departments.
