Healthy Swimming Tips to Read Before Taking That Dip
School’s out; summer is here, and that means pool season has begun. There are so many options for safe swimming in the region from public swimming pools, to pools at local hotels, apartment complexes, maybe even your own backyard.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports activities in the United States. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports just 2.5 hours of water-based (or other forms of) physical activity per week has health benefits no matter how old you are. As with any exercise, the only way we get the most health benefits is when we’re careful do our part to reduce our chances of illness and injury.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Recreational Water Illness (RWI) can be caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs/spas, water playgrounds, lakes, or any other body of water. RWIs are a wide variety of infections, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections.
Most outbreaks reported to CDC linked to any body of water we swim, relax, and play in are outbreaks of diarrhea. The outbreaks are caused by germs like norovirus, E. coli and more, and these germs—sometimes millions at a time—can spread when someone who is sick has diarrhea in the water. Other people can get sick if they swallow the germy water—even just a mouthful.
According to the CDC, pool chemicals, like chlorine or bromine, are added to the water to kill germs. But they don't work right away. If used properly, they can kill most germs within a few minutes. However, some germs can live in properly treated water for several days.
The job of pool chemicals is to kill germs. But when pee, poop, sweat, and even dirt sheds off our bodies into the water, the chemicals break down these other things instead of killing germs. This uses up the chemicals' power, which means there's less to kill germs.
So when we go swimming remember we share the water—and the germs in it—with everyone. Help protect yourself, your family, and your friends from germs follow these easy and effective steps each time you get in the water:
- Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea.
- Stay out of the water if you have an open wound (for example, from surgery or a piercing) that is not covered with a waterproof bandage.
- Shower before you get in the water. Rinsing off in the shower for just 1 minute removes most of the dirt or anything else on your body.
- Protect against sunburn by using sunscreen with at least SPF 15 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
Take kids on bathroom breaks often. Check diapers, and change them in a bathroom or diaper-changing area–not poolside–to keep germs away from the pool.
All good, practical tips for keeping summer swimming safe and fun!
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.
Versión en Español
En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles, también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.
Lea Estos Consejos Saludables Sobre el Nadar Antes de Meterse