Water illnesses can happen when someone has contact with, swallows, or breathes in water that is contaminated with germs. This can happen in a swimming pool, hot tub, water fountain, water park, lake, or ocean.

Most such infections are diarrhea-related and often are caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium, which normally lives in the gastrointestinal tract and is found in feces (poop). Other infections can affect the skin, eyes, ears, and respiratory tract. Kids, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems can be the most affected by these infections.

A few tips to protect against recreational water illnesses:

  • Kids with diarrhea should not swim.
  • Take kids on bathroom breaks often and change swim diapers often (not at the poolside).
  • If you are taking a baby in the water who is not potty trained, use a swim diaper.
  • Wash hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
  • Avoid swallowing or getting water in your mouth.
  • Keep a pool’s water clean by showering before entering the pool.
  • After swimming, dry ears well with a towel/washcloth, tilting each ear down to help water drip out of the ear canal. This can help prevent swimmer’s ear (an ear infection due to trapped water in the ear canal).

Safety tips to prevent Injury and drowning

  • Education and creating awareness in society.
  • Protective gears and supervision while swimming.
  • Fencing of swimming pool, presence of lifeguard.
  • Kids should never be left alone near swimming pool area. They should always be supervised
  • No running around near swimming pool
  • Make sure gates around swimming pool area are closed and manned by a guard.
  • Know and ask where the First Aid kit is before entering swimming pool, so that there is no panic situation in case of emergency
  • watch your baby closely at all times. Young children can enter the pool quickly unnoticed.
  • Developing a national water safety strategy

Regard

" Healthy Kids, happy Family"