You can get parasites and germs from swimming pools

Swimming is fun and a good form of exercise. So, what is there to worry about? Well, there are special precautions to follow when swimming.

According to the Centers for Diseases and Control (CDC), swimmers should be aware of recreational water illness or RWI. These RWIs are diseases that occur due to swallowing or coming in contact with dirty water from pools, beaches, and other bodies of water.

Diseases from swimming

Common infections associated with swimming include diarrhea, skin disease, and infections of the ears and eyes.

When a pool is properly chlorinated, this will kill most of the germs, sometimes within minutes or days. Make sure the swimming pool facility has been chlorinated by a reliable person. The recommended chlorine levels by the Health Department are usually between 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million.

However, there are certain instances wherein the germs are resistant even to chlorine. When this happens, outbreaks of diarrhea may occur among the swimmers.

In the past years, there has been a substantial increase in diarrhea outbreaks associated with swimming. In the United States, these outbreaks are caused by two parasites, namely Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Cryptosporidium is more dangerous because it can be resistant to chlorine.

The poor hygiene of some swimmers can lead to contamination of pools, which is invisible to the naked eye. These parasites infect others when someone accidentally swallows pool water contaminated with feces. Eating contaminated food, handling soiled diapers, and improper handwashing can also facilitate the spread of these infections. Cryptosporidium infection should not be taken lightly because patients with weakened immune systems can die as a result.

A study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases (June 2008) showed that some pools were found to be positive for these parasites. The highest incidence of contamination comes from children’s pools, community pools, and smaller-sized pools.

To protect yourself, here are some tips to follow.

Swimming don’ts

• Do not swallow water from the pool.

• Do not swim if you have diarrhea. The danger of spreading bacteria is highest with kids in diapers.

• Do not swim if you have a skin disease, skin lesion or bandage. You might spread the disease to others.

• Do not urinate in the swimming pool. Tell kids not to pee or defecate in the pool.

• Do not spit in the swimming pool.

• Do not swim if you are sick or if you drank alcohol. You may be at risk of drowning.

Swimming do’s

• Clean yourself with soap and water before going in the pool. This will sound gross but make sure to wash your backside (anus) before swimming. Normally, there are some invisible fecal materials lingering in the area around the anus. These bacteria can spread in the water and infect other people.

• Wash babies and kids thoroughly with soap and water (especially the rear end) before swimming. Babies with diapers should be checked often to make sure that the diaper is not soiled.

• If the baby defecates (poops), change the diaper in the bathroom and not beside the pool.

• Do take frequent bathroom breaks.

• Do wear sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn and skin cancer. Choose those with a sun protection factor (SPF) of more than 15 to 30.

General safety tips

In addition, here are some common-sense tips for swimmers, kids, and parents to follow. Remember, safety first.

• Check if there is a lifeguard on duty. If there is no lifeguard, make sure that a capable parent is watching at all times. It does not matter if they are good swimmers already. It pays to have an extra person around who can call for help when needed.

• Watch your children even in small tubs or pools. There is always the risk of drowning. Hence, kids should never swim without adult supervision.

• Don’t play it rough. Keep your games clean and safe. Don’t push someone suddenly in the pool. You might cause a serious neck or back injury to the person. Take note that the pool is surrounded by wet and slippery surfaces. Don’t slip and slide.

• If you don’t know how to swim, just stay in the shallow areas.

• Be careful when diving. Make sure the area is clear and you don’t hit any person or object.

• Minimize use of bulky and obstructive toys in the pool.

• Beware of pool hazards like water drains and pipes. These drains may have strong suction pressures. In fact, there was a reported death of a kid trapped by a drain.

• No gadgets and electrical appliances near the pool. Beware of electrocution.

• Bring a first-aid kit. Better yet, learn first-aid techniques. You never know when these skills will come in handy.

• Finally, get out of the water when you hear thunder or when it is about to rain. You never know where and when lightning will strike. Let’s all stay safe when swimming.