The temperatures are rising and that means more outdoor activities! This time of year can be lots of fun, but if you’re not careful, it can also potentially be dangerous. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe this summer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an average of 10 people die in the U.S. each day from unintentional drowning, in Indiana alone more than 110 people died of drowning last year.
The CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health advise that anyone going into the water should have basic swimming skills and that children should always be supervised whenever they are in and near water. Even if a kid knows how to swim, they should wear life jackets around natural bodies of water as a safety measure.
Swimmers should also take precautions to prevent sunburn and heat-related illnesses by applying sunscreen often and drinking plenty of fluids.
Anyone experiencing stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, muscle weakness or difficulty breathing should seek medical attention. Be sure to stay out of the water if experiencing diarrhea and for two weeks after symptoms stop.
The CDC warns that drowning, heat stroke and sunburns aren’t the only dangers that swimming can pose.
Each year, Indiana sees an average of 190 cases of Cryptosporidium. This is a parasite that can survive for days, even in properly chlorinated pools. It can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness that primarily involves watery diarrhea with or without a persistent cough.
To reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting a recreational water illness, swimmers should avoid swallowing water and shower before and after getting in the pool. Always thoroughly dry ears after swimming.
Never urinate or defecate in the water, and be sure to instruct children to avoid doing so. Parents should always check swim-diapers and change them in a bathroom or diaper changing area, not poolside. Be sure to wash your hands and the child’s hands before returning to the pool.
Additionally, Hoosiers who spend time in natural bodies of water are warned to avoid swimming if a blue-green algal bloom is present. Also steer clear of these bodies of water after a rain event since rain can wash contaminants like sewage overflows and animal feces into the water.
For more information on recreational water illnesses following the links provided with this story on our website at WKVI.com/MAX983.net
Click the following links for more information about recreational water illnesses and public swimming pools and spas.
