Every
summer, swimming pools are filled with kids having fun and staying cool.
When it comes to water safety, most parents are
aware of diving injuries, drowning, and sunburn but few know that their child could get
sick from the sparkling blue water of the family pool.
“Although
swimming is great fun, parents should remember that children share the pool water with
other kids in the water,” said Dr. Anatole Karpovs, pediatrician at the Children's
Clinic of SWLA. “If one of those kids has diarrhea and contaminates the pool water,
your child could become sick by swallowing the contaminated water.”
The most common
recreational water illness caused by germs that contaminate water in pools is diarrhea,
according to Karpovs.
“Although, some
pools can harbor the dangerous bacteria E. coli which can cause extreme illness and even
death.
One outbreak of E. coli in
Marietta, Georgia
in 1998 left eight children hospitalized, and one child died,” he said.
The biggest culprit, according to
the Center for Disease Control (CDC), is the parasite “Crypto” which is found in
the intestinal tract of infected humans. The CDC reports that “Crypto” is
becoming resistant to chloride and can live in pools for days.
Karpovs said, “Without parents help, even the
best-maintained pools can spread illness.”
To keep germs out of
the pool, the CDC recommends these practices:
·
Never allow a child to
swim if he has diarrhea, particularly kids in diapers. Children can spread germs in the
water even without having an “accident.”
·
Caution children not to
swallow the pool water. In fact, tell them to avoid getting water in their mouth.
·
Practice good hygiene.
Shower your child before swimming and have them wash their hands after using the toilet.
·
Take your kids on bathroom
breaks or check diapers often.
·
Change diapers in a
bathroom and not at poolside. Be sure to wash your hands.
·
Swim diapers will not
prevent fecal material from leaking into the pool.
·
Chemical levels should be
checked every two hours. A well-maintained pool, will have free chlorine levels above one
part per million; the pH between 7.2 and 8.8, alkalinity between 80 and 120 parts per
million, calcium harness between 200 and 400 parts per million, and total dissolved solids
below 2,500 milligrams per liter.
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