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Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Swim Safely!

Swim Safely!

Protect Your Children from Waterborne Illnesses

By Kathleen Meister

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. In an earlier outbreak in Wisconsin, swimmers from three different pools became sick after a single child who was infected with Cryptosporidium had "accidents" in each of the pools on three successive days.

The risk of waterborne illnesses isn't limited to traditional pools. Illnesses can also be spread in other settings in which people share water, such as hot tubs, spas and water park attractions. Several recent disease outbreaks have been traced to contaminated water in the fountain-style attractions that small children play in at water parks.

Chlorine Cautions
People often assume that they can't get sick from swimming in pools because chlorine kills all the germs in pool water. However, this assumption isn't completely correct. Although chlorine does kill germs, it has a couple of limitations.

First, if a pool's chlorine and pH levels aren't maintained properly, the chemical can't do its job. So it's crucial for pool personnel to test the water regularly and add chemicals when they're needed.

Second, chlorine takes time to work. It doesn't kill all germs instantly, and certain germs, such as Cryptosporidium, are relatively resistant to it. (E. coli, on the other hand, is very sensitive to chlorine and shouldn't survive for more than a minute or so in a well-maintained pool.) Chlorine alone can't keep a pool safe. Swimmers have to do their part, too, by practicing healthy swimming behaviors. Parents of toddlers have an especially important role to play here, because children of this age are especially likely to have "accidents" in the pool.

"If you're taking a child who is not potty-trained to a swimming facility, the child needs to wear a diaper covered by something else, such as rubber pants or the type of bathing suit that has a double waistband and elastic legs," says Melanie Sasse, recreation supervisor for the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Recreation. At the 10 community pools run by Sasse's department, all toddlers are required to wear rubber pants or a similar covering over their diapers.


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