In the swim: Safety measures can sink worries about the water
By Yolanda Perdomo
NYT Regional Newspapers
Warm weather is when everyone heads outdoors - from camping to cookouts, it's hard not to.
And one of the most enjoyable activities is finding a way to cool off -- taking a dip at the beach, in a nearby lake or in the neighborhood pool.
Before jumping in, though, remember that safety comes first.
Approximately 5,000 people drown every year, according to the American Red Cross.
``The real tragic aspect is that many of them could have been prevented,'' said Don Lauritzen, the Red Cross' health and safety expert. Lauritzen recommends several safety steps to avoid accidents and problems associated with water activity:
# Have a game plan before arriving at the recreational area.
Kids might be too excited to pay attention to water safety rules once they're at the site. Go over pool rules and general swimming instructions beforehand. Use the buddy system and explain to children how it works -- ``You're going to stay together the whole time and make sure he doesn't go into water above his chest,'' Lauritzen gives as an example.
The Red Cross also recommends doing a sunburn-prevention check and pack things like sunscreen, a first-aid kit, healthy snacks and beverages to keep hydrated, as well as hats and sunglasses.
# Take swimming lessons.
Children and adults can learn basic techniques at programs offered by their local Red Cross. About two million people learn how to swim each year through the organization's programs.
# Keep your eyes on the kids in the water. Even children who have taken swimming lessons must be supervised.
``Swimming lessons do not drown-proof your child. That's very important for people to know,'' said Dr. Denise Dowd, chief of injury prevention at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. ``We always have the problem of drowning or near drowning. You have to supervise kids.''
# Watch the weather.
``As soon as anyone sees lightning or hears thunder, they should exit the water immediately,'' said Lauritzen. ``The general rule of thumb would be to wait a minimum of twenty minutes after the last sound of thunder and flash of lightning before entering the water.''
# Take a First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator course.
``They'll know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies,'' said Lauritzen.
WATER PARK WORRIES
It was the splash heard round the country: Close to 4,000 people became ill after visiting an upstate New York State park that boasts a ``sprayground'' -- more than 100 water jets that spontaneously spray into the air -- between June and August last year. Patrons complained of fever and headaches to diarrhea. The culprit? Cryptosporidium, a parasite generally found in feces.
Though disinfection filtration barriers were in place as they had been for decades, the parasite is chlorine resistant, explained Dr. Michael Beach, of the Centers for Disease Control, or the CDC. Beach says even a slight spraying with water contaminated with the cryptosporidium parasite can cause illness.
``We know diseases spread through the respiratory system,'' he said. ``The water is spewed in the air and you breathe it -- it's not just about ingestion.''
New York State now requires that splash-and-spray parks take extra disinfecting measures -- including posting warning signs that ask people suffering from diarrhea not to enter the area.
Before going to a public facility, Beach says it's up to the individual to take care of themselves and their children.
``Practice good hygiene, such as showering beforehand. Change diapers in a diaper changing room. If somebody is ill with diarrhea, you can transmit the disease to other people,'' Beach said. ``It's not sterile. It's not drinking water. It's communal bathing water. We really need to make sure that people who are ill or young children who are ill don't go swimming.''
INQUIRE WITHIN
For those who frequent a public pool, the CDC recommends asking the pool operator about the cleaning mechanisms in place at the facility. You can also check things out for yourself by purchasing a chlorine test strip kit, available at any pool or hardware store.
``We're really recommending that consumers take a pro-active role in protecting themselves. There's nothing like being checked on to make sure that you operate at an optimum level,'' said Beach. ``It's the consumer's health.''
Even if the water looks crystal clear, heed the warnings put out by state and local officials.
``If they see a sign out that says 'high e-coli or fecal coliform levels,' that's a clear indication that you shouldn't be swimming,'' said Beach.
``After heavy rainfall, it's not the best time to go swimming because of all of the contamination in the watershed that flows into the open water,'' Beach said. ``That's a day you might want to find another activity.''
(Yolanda Perdomo writes for the New York Times Regional Newspapers.)
