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Health Officials Urge Swimming Safety

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: May 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - With people flocking to community pools and beaches during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, health officials are urging swimmers to guard against coming down with illnesses.

"Adopting healthy swimming behaviors can reduce the risk of recreational water illnesses," the Pasco County health officer, Dr. David Johnson, said in a press release.

Germs on and in swimmers' bodies end up in the water and can make other people sick, Johnson emphasized. Even healthy swimmers can get sick from recreational water illnesses, but the young, elderly, pregnant women and people with immunity problems are especially at risk, he noted.

Healthy swimming practices include:

•Do not swim when you have diarrhea.

•Do not swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.

•Shower before swimming.

•Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.

•Take children to the restroom for bathroom breaks, or change diapers often.

•Change children's diapers in a restroom, not at poolside.

Swimmers should be aware of several rare diseases.

Several species of Cryptosporidium, a chlorine-resistant pathogenic parasite, can turn up at community pools and water parks where water is treated.

Hand washing and adhering to healthy swimming practices can help prevent infections.

Swimmers should also know about Naegleria fowleri, a natural, free-living, heat-adapted amoeba commonly found in warm fresh water and soil. An N. fowleri infection can cause a rare but severe brain inflammation, primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Most infections are fatal. Naegleria is found in the environment worldwide and is known to have caused human infections in 15 southern states, including Florida.

Measures that could reduce risk of Naegleria infection include:

•Avoid water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater, hot springs, and thermally-polluted water such as water around power plants.

•Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low water volume.

•Hold the nose shut or use nose clips when engaging in recreational freshwater activities.

•Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm, freshwater lakes.

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