Help Prevent Swimming Hazards

Written by: Sharon Casselman

The pool is close to home, inexpensive and there’s nothing better than a cool, refreshing dip in our beautiful pool on a sweltering day. Unfortunately, even the cleanest looking pools can have harmful parasites lurking in the crystal clear water. Fortunately, the Springdale Parks and Recreation Aquatic staff, Ohio Dept. of Health and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are responsible partners in the prevention of Recreational Water Illness (RWI).

Remember that when you swim, you are swimming with everyone and everything that’s in the water, whether it’s a pool, lake, pond, river or ocean! I’ll stick with the pool for right now.

Help keep germs out of the pool and prevent RWIs:

1. Don’t swim if you or your child have diarrhea.
2. Don’t swallow pool water
3. Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
4. Take children on frequent bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Every hour we call a rest (adult) break and it’s a perfect opportunity for a potty break!
5. Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area, not poolside.
6. Wash children thoroughly, especially the buttocks, with soap and water before they go swimming.
7. If your child has an accident in or around the pool, inform the staff immediately. It might be a little embarrassing but no one dies from embarrassment!

A final word on lakes, ponds, rivers and the ocean; they all can be contaminated by humans, sewage spills, animal waste, and water runoff. Some common germs can also live for long periods of time in salt water. I think I’ll stick with the Community Center pool!

Don’t miss my next blog: Someone pooped in the pool. Now what?

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