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The goal of this year's recognition is to
highlight the importance of healthy swimming behaviors and
recreational water illness prevention. Many people may have heard or
read about the legionellosis outbreak (Legionnaires'
disease) that affected several hundred people after a hotel stay in
Lincoln earlier this year. This outbreak underscores the need for
emphasizing good pool operation and spreading prevention tips for
pool operators and pool patrons to ensure a healthy swimming
experience. Recreational water illnesses, known as RWIs, are
spread by swimming in water contaminated as a result of poorly
maintained recreational water venues, the presence of
chlorine-resistant germs or runoff-related contamination of lakes or
marine beaches.
The public's awareness of these illnesses and appropriate
swimming behaviors plays a pivotal role in preventing transmission.
Swimmers who are ill with diarrhea may contaminate swimming venues;
this poses health risks for the healthy swimmers in the pool. In
addition, high-risk groups such as the young, the elderly, the
pregnant and those with weakened immune systems should also be
advised about healthy swimming behaviors and prevention of
recreational water illnesses.
Healthy swimming behaviors include these:
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Don't swim when
you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make
other people sick.
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Don't swallow the
pool water. In fact, avoid getting water in your mouth.
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Practice good
hygiene. Shower before swimming, and wash your hands after using
the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the
water.
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Take children on
bathroom breaks or change diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have
to go" may mean that it's too late.
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Change diapers in
a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and
objects in and around the pool and spread illness.
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Wash your child
thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before
swimming. Everyone has invisible amounts of fecal matter on
their bottoms and this ends up in the pool.
Recreational water venues provide ample opportunities for people
to increase their level of physical activity and enjoy their leisure
time. To make this summer a healthy swimming experience, the Logan
County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention urge swimmers to continue to enjoy swimming, but only
after adopting healthy swimming behaviors that will protect oneself,
one's family and fellow swimmers from the spread of illness.
For more information regarding Recreational Water Illness
Prevention Week, good pool operation and healthy swimming, contact
the Logan County Health Department or visit
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.
[Logan
County Health Department news release]
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