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  National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week
May 19 - 25 2008

Dive into this swimming season prepared.

The goal of this week is to highlight the importance of healthy swimming habits to prevent recreational water illnesses(RWI). Recreational waters in New Mexico include swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, hot springs, lakes and rivers. There are many types of illnesses that people can get from recreational waters; the most common reported RWI is diarrhea caused by pathogens such as Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto), Giardia, Shigella, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. New Mexico has also seen cases of swimmer’s ear, swimmer’s itch, hot tub rash and Legionnaires disease.

Before you enjoy your favorite water sport keep these water illness tips in mind.

Knowing how you can get sick when swimming and having healthly swimming habits play important roles in stopping the spread of illness through water. Germs on and in swimmers’ bodies end up in the water and can make other people sick. Even healthy swimmers can get sick from water in pools, lakes, hot springs etc . . . . but the young, elderly, pregnant women and immunosuppressed persons are especially at risk. Specific actions you can take to promote healthy swimming include:

    * Do NOT swim when you have diarrhea.

    * Do NOT swallow pool water or get pool water or another other untreated water such as lake water or river water in your mouth.

    * Shower before swimming (children too!).

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

    * Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.

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

    * Shower off or towel dry after getting out of lakes and rivers to avoid rashes.

    * Bath or wipe down pets who jump in water with scum or visible algae.