Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Release Date:          Immediate Release                     End Date:  May 18, 2007

Contact Person:     Brian McKenzie, R.S.                 

                                    Environmental Health Supervisor

                                    Genesee County Health Department

Phone:                      (810) 257-3603

RE:                             NATIONAL RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESS PREVENTION WEEK

The week preceding Memorial Day (May 21-27, 2007) has been designated as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week. 

The goal of this year’s recognition is to highlight the importance of healthy swimming behaviors for preventing recreational water illnesses. Outbreaks of recreational water illnesses continue to occur in the United States each year; fortunately, no confirmed outbreaks have occurred in Genesee County.  Sixty-two percent of these outbreaks are related to the chlorine-resistant pathogen, Cryptosporidium, (“Crypto”) which is introduced into the pool by swimmers who are ill with diarrhea and spread to other swimmers when they swallow the contaminated water. These outbreaks underscore the continuing need to educate people about recreational water illness prevention to ensure a healthy swimming experience.

Awareness of recreational water illnesses (RWIs) and healthy swimming behaviors play an important role in stopping transmission of RWIs. Germs on and in swimmers’ bodies end up in the water and can make other people sick. Even healthy swimmers can get sick from RWIs, but the young, elderly, pregnant women and immunosuppressed persons are especially at risk. Specific actions you can take to promote healthy swimming include:

1.      Do not swim when you have diarrhea.

2.      Do not swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.

3.      Shower before swimming (children too!).

4.      Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.

5.      Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.

6.      Change children’s diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.

Recreational water venues are important sites for exercise and leisure. To make this summer a Healthy Swimming experience, the Genesee County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge swimmers to continue to enjoy swimming, but only after adopting healthy swimming behaviors to reduce the risk of recreational water illnesses.

For more information about Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week and Healthy Swimming, contact the Genesee County Health Department or visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.