Enjoy The Water But Be Safe This Summer

National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week is May 18-24 

NASHVILLE – Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of swimming season, and is the traditional opening day of many public pools in Tennessee and across the country. The Tennessee Department of Health wants to make sure residents and visitors have a safe and healthy swimming season. TDOH joins the national observance of Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week May 18–24, 2009. This health observance in the week leading up to Memorial Day is designed to raise awareness about healthy swimming behaviors.

“There are simple steps you can take to make sure you and family members don’t get sick or injured as a result of a day in the pool or at the lake,” said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “These precautions will also protect others from illnesses that can be spread in water.”

Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) are 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. Germs on and in swimmers’ bodies end up in the water and can make other people sick. RWIs can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. Even healthy swimmers can get sick from RWIs, but the young, elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are especially at risk.

Recreational Water Illnesses
“The best way to prevent RWIs is to keep germs out of the pool in the first place,” said L. Rand Carpenter, DVM, a TDOH epidemiologist involved in waterborne disease surveillance. “Everyone can help create healthy swimming experiences this summer by following these six healthy swimming steps.”

• Don’t swim if you have diarrhea.
• Don’t swallow pool water.
• Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Take children on frequent bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
• Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area, not at poolside.
• Wash children thoroughly, especially the buttocks, with soap and water before they go swimming.

Illnesses and outbreaks associated with recreational water vary from year to year. In 2008, there were no outbreaks reported in Tennessee that were caused by recreational water. However, nationwide cases and outbreaks of illness caused by cryptosporidium and other waterborne pathogens have been on the rise. Any illness or outbreak that is possibly caused by exposure to recreational water should be reported to your local health department.

Pool chemical injuries
Pool chemicals make the water where we swim safer by protecting us from germs. However, these same chemicals can also cause injuries if they are not properly handled. This type of preventable injury leads to thousands of emergency room visits each year. Public pool operators and residential pool owners can protect themselves and swimmers by taking these key steps:

• Always secure pool chemicals. Keep 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.

For more information about healthy swimming, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Swimming Web site at www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming, or the Environmental Protection Agency’s beaches Web site www.epa.gov/beaches.