Public Pools May Pose Infection Risk

Posted on 17. Jul, 2010 by Mark in Natural Health News

The climate change has caused the temperatures to be at their extreme, which means we are experiencing the coldest of winters and the hottest of summers. A message of warning however, don’t be so quick to jump into those public pools to soothe the burning heat.

Researchers have discovered that one out of eight public pools across America had to be closed due to serious violations. The violations include inadequate chlorine levels and improper Ph level in the pool water. These two violations alone can lead to the transmission of disease causing germs in the water.

What’s worse is that the highest percentage of immediate closures are pools in child care settings. According to Michele Hlavsa, an epidemiologist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kiddie or wading pools and interactive fountains had the highest percentage of disinfectant violations.

“It’s not easy to keep pools, especially outdoor pools, within compliance,” said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University. “They must be checked frequently.”

While pool inspectors play a vital role in ensuring that the pool and the swimmers are safe, inspections cannot be done on a daily basis. There are some practices that may be done by the swimmers themselves in order to ensure their safety.

It is possible to check the pH level of the water yourself with the help of pH strips available. Note that the level should be between 7.2 to 7.8 in order to reach the standards.

Small children are very susceptible to contracting intestinal and skin infections, and they may also help in spreading them. Fungal infections like athlete’s foot are easily spread on wet surfaces so it’s best to observe hygiene.

It is advisable to use slippers when walking around the area instead of going barefoot. Make sure to shower before and after using the pool. “Swimming is a great physical activity, but people just need to think a little more and take more active roles in making sure it’s healthy, too,” Hlavsa said.

Source: ^ Definitions of pH scales, standard reference values, measurement of pH, and related terminology. Pure Appl. Chem. (1985), 57, pp 531–542.