The Water Quality and Health Council (WQHC) has released the results of a public opinion survey about how people behave in public swimming pools and it’s not very comforting.
Writing for Rodale.com (July 7, 2009), Megan O’Neill reports, “Urine - as well as sweat and even sunscreen - contain nitrogen, which eats up a pool’s free chlorine. Free chlorine is what kills waterborne germs that could make you sick if ingested.”
One in Five People Admit to Peeing in a Public Pool
In May 2009, the WQHC reported that “84 percent of Americans believe their fellow swimmers participate in unhygienic pool behaviour – and they may be right. In fact, almost half (47 percent) admit to one or more behaviours that contribute to an unhealthy pool.”
The Council says its survey found that 17 percent of the population admits to having urinated in a public pool. (That percentage could be a lot higher because a lot of people who have behaved so grossly are not going to own up to it.)
“As far as showering goes,” says the Council, “forget it. Roughly one third (35 percent) pass the shower without stopping and three quarters (73 percent) say their fellow swimmers fail to shower before swimming.”
Health Concerns over Public Pool Use
Most people don’t give a second thought to the cleanliness of the water they are about to jump into. The survey found that almost two thirds of swimmers are unaware they can get sick from contaminated pool water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns there are a number of recreational water illnesses (RWIs) of which the public should be aware. These include “gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses can be caused by germs such as...Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, norovirus, and E.coli 0157.H7."
According to the CDC, these illnesses are on the rise. "Between 2005 and 2006, 78 outbreaks were reported in 31 states – the largest number of outbreaks ever in a two-year period. Close to 4,500 people were affected."
How to be a Health-Smart Swimmer
Healthypools.org suggests a few simple ways in which the public can protect themselves:
- Sight: Look for water that’s clean, clear, and blue;
- Touch: Check for tiles that feel smooth and clean;
- Smell: Make sure there are no strong odours;
- Sound: Listen for pool cleaning equipment;
- Taste: Never drink or swallow pool water; and,
- Common Sense: Do your part to protect yourself and others.
Good Pool Behaviours Encouraged
The Centers for Disease Control has created a list of six tips for healthy swimming:
- Don’t swim when you have diarrhea;
- Don’t swallow pool water;
- Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers;
- Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often;
- Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside; and,
- Wash your children thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming.
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