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Swim Safely!
Protect Your Children from Waterborne Illnesses
By Kathleen Meister
Taking older children to the bathroom frequently is also an important precaution. "Diaper-aged children aren't always the ones responsible for fecal accidents," Sasse says. "Sometimes, accidents happen to older kids who waited too long to go to the bathroom." Sasse points out that many swimming facilities have short "adult swim" periods every hour or so; this can be an ideal time for a bathroom break.
- Don't swim when you have diarrhea.
- Don't swallow pool water.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Take your children on bathroom breaks often.
- Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.
- Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming.
In addition to following these rules, parents may want to check to make sure that a pool is properly maintained. Stephens has been doing this ever since her daughter's illness. She gets to know the staff at every pool that her children swim in, and she even carries a pool water testing kit so that she can make sure that the pools are properly chlorinated.
"I would like other parents to know that pools and water parks can be a great source of fun, but also a source of illness as well," Stephens says. "It is crucial that parents be aware of how a pool is maintained and whether or not the chemicals are at the proper levels. Parents should stay involved and pressure pool maintenance staffs to keep up the pools properly."
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