Drinking Swimming Pool Water Can Make You Sick
From the "dang we can't have nothing nice department" comes another warning about something I have probably done for the past 45 years. That something is the ingesting of swimming pool water. I know it's gross and it's not on purpose but it happens. Sometimes the water just finds its way into your mouth and your only option is swallow.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta released a warning to the country this past Thursday. It was a warning of the inherent dangers of ingesting water from a pool. Besides the very unsavory image of taking a sip of water from the world's first transgender bathroom, you're also putting yourself at risk for diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and some serious time with your smartphone on the toilet.
According to the CDC report, the latest culprit is called Crypto, that's short for Cryptosporidium. I have to admit Crypto sounds like a superhero but the longer version doesn't sound so pleasant.
The number of cases has doubled across the United States over the past two years. While it's not at epidemic status with the beginning of swimming pool season it at least bears a warning. The parasite that causes Crypto can survive in treated pool water for up to ten days so public pools, hotel pools, and pools at sketchy friends and neighbors houses should be enjoyed with caution.
Just to be clear, the CDC isn't saying don't go swimming. They are saying don't drink the pool water. Here are the recommended precautions from the CDC.
- Don't swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea.
- If diarrhea is caused by Crypto, wait until two weeks after diarrhea has stopped to go swimming.
- Don't swallow the water in which you swim.
- Rinse off in the shower before getting in the water to help remove any germs on your body that could contaminate the water.
- Take kids on bathroom breaks often, and check diapers in a diaper-changing area and not right next to the pool.
Isn't it funny how that sounds remarkably like common sense? Oh yeah, I forgot, we don't use that on a regular basis. Okay, at least some of us don't. Regardless, be safe and happy swimming this Summer.