Health Notes: Tips for germ-free swimming

One of the best ways to cool off is to take a dip in the water. It also can be a way of sharing germs, the Minnesota Department of Health notes.

So here’s a list of dos and don’ts:

DON’T swim when you have diarrhea.

DON’T swallow pool or lake water.

DO shower with soap

before swimming.

DO wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing diapers.

DO take children on bathroom breaks or change their diapers often.

DO change diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside or beachside.

A health department news release noted that 24 swimming pool outbreaks and 15 beach outbreaks were identified in Minnesota from 2000 to 2011, resulting in more than 900 people who became sick.

Earlier this year, an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was traced to Duluth’s Edgewater Resort & Water Park. The outbreak forced a brief closing while the water was treated with a super dose of chlorine. It also prompted the resort to invest $100,000 in an ultraviolet water treatment system to quickly eliminate harmful micro-organisms and bacteria from the water.

Tags: news, health, updates