The Center for Disease Control is advising those that will be swimming in a pool this summer to make sure and shower off after swimming.
The CDC warns that a parasite called Cryptosporidium – or “crypto” for short could make you very sick. The parasite is spread by feces and can make other swimmers sick if they swallow a mouthful of contaminated water.
Most germs are killed within minutes by common pool disinfectants like chlorine or bromine, but Crypto is a germ that can survive in properly chlorinated water for more than 7 days. This is why Crypto is the leading cause of U.S. outbreaks linked to swimming.
Before getting in…
- Don’t swim or let children swim if sick with diarrhea.
- Check out the latest inspection results. You can find inspection scores online or on-site.
- Do your own mini-inspection. Use test strips to make sure disinfectant (chlorine or bromine) level and pH are correct.
- Free chlorine concentration of at least 1 ppm in pools and water playgrounds
- Bromine concentration of at least 3 ppm in pools and water playgrounds
- pH 7.2–7.8
- Shower for at least 1 minute before you get into the water. This will remove most of the dirt and sweat on your body.
Once in…
- Don’t swallow the water.
- Don’t pee in the water.
- Take kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers every hour.
- Change diapers in a bathroom or diaper-changing area—not poolside—to keep germs away from the pool.
Share the Fun, Not the Germs!