Today, May 19, the Nassau County Department of Health has issued a statement reminding residents of the importance of healthy swimming behaviors and preventing recreational water illnesses (RWIs).
With Memorial Day only one week away, the Health Department recommends those using recreational waters to exercise caution and follow regulations.
RWIs are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, hot tubs, decorative water fountains, spas, lakes, rivers or oceans. RWI can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses can be caused by germs such as Cryptosporidium (Crypto), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli 0157:H7.
Chlorine in properly disinfected pools kills most germs that can cause RWIs in less than an hour. However, chlorine takes longer to kill some germs, such as Crypto, which can survive for days in even a properly disinfected pool.
Lakes, rivers and oceans also can become contaminated with germs from sewage, animal waste, water runoff following rainfall, fecal accidents and germs rinsed off the bottoms of swimmers. It is important to avoid swallowing the water because natural recreational water is not disinfected. Avoid swimming in these areas after rainfalls or in areas not permitted by the health department.
Healthy swimmers can get sick from RWIs, but children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed persons are especially at risk.
One of the best ways to help reduce the incidents of RWI is to follow these recommendations when swimming in a pool:
* Do not swim when you or a family member has diarrhea, especially infants and children in diapers.
* Do not swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
* You and your family members should shower before swimming.
* Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
* Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
* Change children’s diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
For additional information, call the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 227-9717.
This week, May 19-25, May is also the fourth annual National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of RWIs have been increasing nationwide.
To read more from the CDC pn RWIs click herehttp://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/rwi_prevention_week.htm
