I
’ll never forget those afternoons
at the swim club growing up
when we all had to evacuate the
pool because of the floating brown
object that looked like a candy bar
— but we all knew what it really
was. It was such a bummer to
lose out on swim time, and ev-
eryone at the club tried to figure
out who the culprit was. How
embarrassing! Those moments
are certainly par for the course.
Summertime is filled with
hours of fun in the pool, but before
your kids dive in, be sure to think
about the germs and chemicals that
may be hiding in the pool water and what
you can do to protect them so that your
day, week, or entire summer is not ruined.
All Kinds Of Germs Are
Lurking In The Water
Recreational water illnesses
(RWIs) are caused by germs found
in swimming pools, hot tubs, water
parks, water play areas, or fountains,
and spread when we swallow or come
in contact with the contaminated wa-
ter. They can cause a number of health
issues, such as gastrointestinal, skin, ear,
eye, and wound infections. The most
common RWI is diarrhea, which can be
caused by germs like Cryptosporidium
(Crypto), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus,
and E. coli.
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention recently released new in-
formation warning parents about Crypto
since outbreaks linked to swimming
have doubled since 2014. This parasite
is the most common cause of diarrheal
illness linked to swimming pools, lead-
ing to bothersome stomach problems
that will be sure to interrupt summer fun.
It spreads when people swallow
something that has come in contact with
the feces of a sick person infected with
Crypto, such as pool water contaminated
with diarrhea. Unfortunately, Crypto can
make someone sick for up to three weeks
with watery diarrhea, stomach cramps,
nausea, and vomiting, and can lead to
dehydration if not addressed properly.
Crypto can be problematic since it
is not easily killed by chlorine and can
30 WNY Family July 2019
lifeguards consistently checking
the pool water.
Give your kids bathroom breaks
throughout the day and make sure
they are wiped thoroughly. For
those children still in diapers,
check the diapers in a changing
area and not right next to the
pool in order to keep the pool
area germ-free. Also, be aware
that swim diapers are not fool-
proof, and poop can still leak
into the pool even if your little
one is wearing one.
Finally, if your kids are sick
with a stomach issue, keep them out
of the pool so they do not spread
their germs to other swimmers.
How To Protect Your Kids
From the Hidden Germs
& Chemicals Lurking in
Swimming Pools
— by Sandi Schwartz
survive up to 10 days even in properly
treated water. Swallowing just a little
water that contains these germs can
make anyone sick. CDC recommends
closing pools and treating the water with
high levels of chlorine, called hyperchlo-
rination, when responding to a pool con-
tamination issue or a Crypto outbreak.
You can take some precautions to
help protect your family from getting
sick from Crypto.
First and foremost, teach your
kids not to swallow any pool wa-
ter starting from a young age. This
can be challenging when they are
really little, and accidents do hap-
pen, but add it to your list of pool
safety tips.
Next, rinse off your children in the
shower before and after they are
in the water to help remove any
germs on their body.
You should also check out the
pool to make sure it is clean, safe,
and well-maintained. Only swim
where there are trained staff and
Risks Of Chlorine
Exposure
Chlorine is used to protect our
health by killing germs, but it can also
cause some problems. When chlorine
combines with urine, feces, sweat,
dirt, skin cells, and personal care
products that end up floating around
in the pool water, chemical irritants
called chloramines are formed.
You know that strong odor you
sometimes smell at pools, especially
indoor ones? You are probably smell-
ing the chloramines, which can turn into
gas in the surrounding air. Breathing in
or coming into contact with chloramines
can cause negative health effects like
asthma attacks; respiratory symptoms
such as nasal irritation, coughing, and
wheezing; red and stinging eyes; and
skin irritation and rashes.
In fact, a 2006 Belgian study showed
that indoor chlorine pools can trigger
the development of asthma in children
younger than 7 years old. But indoor
pools are not the only problem. A study
released by the European Respiratory So-
ciety demonstrated that even regular use
of outdoor chlorinated pools significantly
increased the risk of developing asthma.
What can you do to protect your
kid’s health from chlorine fumes?
Opt for more natural, outdoor
swimming areas like lakes, rivers,
and the ocean.