With many pools opening for the season this weekend, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding Iowans of the basics of recreational water safety. According to the department’s Pools and Spas program, approximately two children under the age of 15 drown each day in the U.S. IDPH officials recommend parents and guardians keep young children within arm’s reach when in and around the water, ensure individuals have received proper swimming instruction and encourage non-swimmers to wear a life jacket while in the pool. Swimming also carries a risk of illness. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report says more than 200 outbreaks between 2015 and 2019 were linked to pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds. These outbreaks are generally caused by cryptosporidium, a microscopic, chlorine-resistant parasite than can cause sickness if contaminated water is inadvertently swallowed. State health officials recommend Iowans shower before entering the water and avoid swimming when ill or swallowing pool water. For more information, follow the links included below.
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Click HERE for CDC’s Recreational Water Safety Page
Click HERE for more information on recreational water illnesses
