And I thought chasing after a wet, naked child in public was a problem…
Imagine taking your kids to the city pool to cool off on the first day of summer vacation, then being forced to spend the next week nursing them back to health.
A growing number of kids are getting sick from swimming in public pools. The problem has become so widespread the Center for Disease Control recently issued a warning to parents about protecting their children from recreational water illnesses.
Heath experts say even regularly maintained pools can contain contaminants like cryptosporidium. If a person doesn’t shower before entering a pool, they can easily transfer germs into the water and if another swimmer swallows the water he or she can become sick.
Another danger lurking in pool water is E. Coli. The bacteria, commonly found in fecal matter, can enter a pool from children who have accidents while swimming. Adults can also contaminate the pool with E. Coli if they do not wash their bodies with soap before entering the water.
To avoid dealing with this summer bummer, some city health departments are recommending parents test public pools before allowing their kids to dive in. Most states only require public pool water to be tested once a day; however, you can check chlorine levels on your own without spending a dime. Just visit healthypools.org and you can obtain a free test kit. The kit is sent to your home. When you receive it, simply remove the numbered sticks, take them to your local pool and dip them into the water. The sticks won’t reveal the level of bacteria in the pool, though they will tell you if the chlorine in the water is high enough to kill contaminants. A chlorine reading of one or higher is optimum.
Other measures to take to avoid getting sick at the pool include taking regular bathroom breaks, showering before and after swimming, and washing your hands after using the toilet. Also, don’t be afraid to report incidents where babies or toddlers are playing in pool water without a swim diaper.