Summer is winding down, which means getting in that last minute camping, grilling in the backyard, and keeping cool on those hot days by swimming! But, before jumping in, you may want to consider what kinds of things are lurking in the water. As parents, you make sure your children say their please and thank you’s, and wash their hands before eating, but do you make sure they shower before and after using the public pool? Many parents are aware of the health dangers of swallowing contaminated water, but what about cleaning it off of you?
In a recent study, only 26% of parents thought it was important to take a shower before and after swimming. Public swimming pools aren’t the only places that disease ridden water can be found. Water Parks, Water Park play areas, lakes, rivers, and oceans can carry the same disease ridden agua. Symptoms of water illness include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Cramping
- Fever
- Skin, ear, and respiratory infections
So how common is contracting recreational water illnesses? Last year over 10,000 Americans were infected with some kind of illness from participating in recreational water activities. It is not to say that water parks and public pools don’t have strict guidelines on keeping their water clean, but is important to make parents aware of the significance of showering before and after using the pool. This is important to reduce the exposure of germs to those in the water. More parents are concerned of the risk of drowning, when in fact it is more common for their children to get a water illness.
Ways to prevent water illness according to C. S. Mott Children’s hospital include:
- Wash with soap and water before and after going swimming
- Check diapers frequently and take bathroom breaks often
- Tell children not to ingest the water in any way
- Do not go swimming when you are sick with diarrhea
I have never gotten sick from swimming, but after reading about the possible contaminations in public waters, I am certainly going to be more careful in preventing any diseases. Do you shower before and after swimming in public places? Have you ever been sick from the water? I am interested to see if our followers hold the same percentage.
Source: MSNBC