Okay, I have to start with a topic that is really important to all you public pool and water park participants. It is swimming pool health safety issues that I'm betting most of you haven't thought of or read about. Yet, there are lots of you out there that violate some of these rules, or you are around those in the public places that are violating them and don't know you're at risk. Oh My! You say, what in the world is it? Come closer my pretty, and prepare to be grossed out . . . .
First, there is fungus among us! It's true! I see it on your sad feet when I stand behind you in line for the awesome water slides! Really! Come on, you know when you're at the pool, everyone is sizing up everyone else and some of us are observant enough to look down and look at other's feet. Some of you have clean, happy feet and some of you have open cracks with peeling skin, funky bubble looking stuff between your toes, and even the dreaded yellowish/tannish/greenish toenails from toenail fungus. Some of you have all three of those - I know, cause I stood behind one of you last week that really made my feet feel weird knowing I was stepping in all the water you were!
"Why, that's a terrible thing to say", I hear some of you gasping, but sadly it's true, and there's a reason I'm sharing it. If you have a fungal infection on your feet, and you go to the pool, the fungus can and will spread to others walking in all the damp or wet places you have walked. Hence the name "athlete's foot", because athletes spread it around in the showers in the locker rooms. Athlete's foot can also spread to the groin area, aka Jock Itch, and ladies can get that, too! Ew! So please, if you have a foot fungus, don't spread it in public pool areas. Take the time to kill that fungus! And yes, there are plenty of over the counter products - sprays, powders, and such to keep it under control or non-existent on our precious tootsies. Even if you have a serious problem that the drugstore stuff won't get rid of, your doctor can give you prescription stuff that will get rid of the little pests. Click here for a site that will help with more info just in case.
And, here's a few tips on managing your feet at home. Invest in a good foot scrub or even better, a pumice stone to slough off dead, dry skin. It's best to do this after your shower while your feet are damp, or soak them first in some nice smelling bubbly stuff. The pumice stones are natural volcanic rock that is great for callouses, too! Just keep it rinsed off and throw it in the dishwasher once in a while to disinfect. You can also push your toenail cuticles down while they're soft from your bath, and it's a great time to clip your toenails - while they're soft. Invest in some tea tree oil and put a few drops in your foot soak for anti-fungal and disinfecting. Don't wear the same shoes too many days in a row, and air out your feet during the day. Keep your shoes clean and give them, and your feet, a good anti-fungal spray or powdering periodically. Also, if your feet still look really dry after sloughing, put some really emollient lotion, cocoa butter, shea butter, or foot creme on at night before bed, or a dab in the daytime if you're going out in sandals. Keeping your feet clean, groomed, and healthy is as important as keeping the rest of yourself clean, groomed, and attractive!
Second, is spreading disease to others in the water! Really? Absolutely! And it's not what you think, either! People who have diarrhea, fecal incontinence, or babies and children not potty trained or who have diarrhea can spread some pretty potent diseases and sickness. Germs in contaminated water can enter your system if you accidentally swallow the water (and who doesn't?), and can cause infection in your eyes, nose, ears, as well as in cuts and scrapes. In fact, many pools post signs that say you should not swim if you have open sores or wounds!
A pool usually becomes contaminated with germs after someone has a fecal "accident" in the pool. These accidents may be in the form of watery diarrhea, therefore they are not easily noticed - if at all. In fact, some report that you don't even have to have an accident in the water to spread this - just diarrhea. And hey, sometimes kids can drop turd bombs that are visible! That also happened in a wave pool at a water park we were at last summer, and they had to clear the water quickly and make sure it was cleaned and safe before they let anyone back in!
Not to mention outbreaks that have been in the news about water parks and diarrhea or fecal contamination. What can you get from a little poo in the pool? Well, E. Coli for one, and cryptosporidiosis, Giardia (gee-ARE-dee-uh), Shigella (Shi-GE-luh) and even Hepatitis A! And, cryptosporidia can survive chlorine! Some of these are potentially even fatal to some folks - the elderly, the kids, and anyone with a weak immune system.
Ready to go swimming now? In the words of Tantor from Disney's Tarzan movie, "Mom, are you sure this water's sanitary ? It looks questionable to me." That thought runs through my head, too, Tantor! So, what to do about all this wonderful knowledge I've imparted to you today. . . .
* Don't go swimming with active fungus problems or diarrhea, and don't let your kids do it either! And teach your kids as early as possible not to even pee in the pool! Explain why or share this post with them!
* If you have young children that are still getting the hang of pooping in the potty, or could have accidents, keep a close eye on them and their bottoms. You can't trust the swim diapers or pants to keep unseen fecal matter out of the water. If they go to the bathroom, go with them and make sure they are wiped clean before going back out. And, don't change poopy pants by the pool - go to the bathroom and make sure bottoms and your hands are properly washed.
* Talk to the owner or manager of the pool you go to. Find out what measures they have in place to deal with these issues and share this information. Find a way to keep those that frequent your pool informed about these health concerns. It might even save a life!
Be a safe swimmer and stay healthy this summer while enjoying all your favorite water activities! (Try not to drink the water!) And be on the watch for a Neo Hippie making an entrance, here on the blog, it's a sight to "see" . . . .
This is wonderful information! I would never have thought about all the details of what can actually go in in a public pool or water park! I know that I have kiddingly wondered (sometimes out loud) who has most recently peed in the pool! Makes one stop and think! Thanks for sharing and for the sobering thought!
Posted by: Mark Hundley | July 10, 2008 at 04:29 PM