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Swim Safely this Summer Proactive Measures and Common Sense Go a Long Way 4/ TheBucknerClarion.com June 25, 2015 As temperatures rise, many retreat to the water to cool off and enjoy some fun in the sun. Swimming and other water-related activities are excellent ways to get the physical activity and health benefits needed for a healthy life. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said Americans swim hundreds of millions of times in pools, oceans, lakes, rivers and hot tubs/spas each year, and most people have a safe and healthy time enjoying the water. However, it is important to be aware of ways to prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs), sunburn, drownings and other accidents that can occur. Many believe the water in public pools is safe because of chlorine, but contrary to popular belief, chlorine does not kill all germs instantly. According to the CDC, there are germs today that are very tolerant to chlorine and were not known to cause human disease until recently. Once these germs get in the pool, it can take anywhere from minutes to days for chlorine to take effect. Therefore, swallowing just a little water that contains these germs can make you sick. By Morgan Graning RWIs are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. RWIs can also be caused by chemicals in the water or chemicals that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems. The CDC said RWIs include a wide variety of infections, such as gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. And with RWI outbreaks on the rise, the CDC suggests swimmers take an active role in helping to protect themselves and prevent the spread of germs. Here are a few easy, effective and healthy swimming steps provided by the CDC to help protect swimmers from RWIs: ● Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea. ● Shower before you get in the water. ● Don't go to the bathroom in the water. ● Don't swallow the water. ● Take kids on bathroom breaks often, checking diapers and changing them in a bathroom or diaper-changing area – not poolside – to keep germs away from the pool. ● Check the free chlorine level and pH before getting into the water, through pool test strips sold at superstores, hardware stores and pool-supply stores. Both in and out of the water, swimmers should actively seek protection from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can damage skin in as little as 15 minutes, according to the CDC. Seeking out a shady spot to lounge poolside, wearing sunglasses, hats and other protective clothing, are several things water enthusiasts can do to protect themselves from the sun. But sunscreen is one of the biggest ways to protect skin from harmful UV rays. Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight, through housing chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. The CDC recommends several tips for getting the most out of sunscreen: SPF - Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Reapplication - Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating or toweling off. Expiration Date - Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures. Cosmetics - Some makeup and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. If they do not have at least SPF 15, don't use them by themselves. Protection from the sun and infection are not the only things swimmers should be paying attention to this summer. When kids or inexperienced swimmers enter the swimming pool, drowning is always a concern. Drowning is a leading cause of injury or death for young children ages 1 to 4, and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages, according to the CDC. For best protection, the CDC suggests a combination of several safety measures to most effectively reduce drowning risks: Fencing – In residential pools, appropriate pool fencing, which completely separates the pool from the house and the yard, can significantly reduce the risk of drowning. The fence should be at least four feet high, and have self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward, with latches that are out of the reach of children. Swimming Lessons - Formal swimming lessons and water-safety skills training can start at a young age. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons as young as one years old. The decision to begin swimming lessons should be based on the individual child's exposure to water, emotional maturity, physical limitations and health concerns. Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by as much as 88 percent among young children aged one to four years, who are at greatest risk of drowning. Life Jackets - In a pool, inexperienced swimmers and young children may benefit from wearing properly fitted life jackets. Do not use air-filled or foam toys, such as "water wings," "noodles," or inner tubes in place of life jackets for flotation support. These are toys and are not designed to keep swimmers safe. Supervision – In residential pools, children should never be in or around a pool alone. Barriers to pool access should be used to help prevent young children from gaining access to the pool area without the caregiver's awareness. In public pools, never leave a small child alone or in the care of another child while in the pool or other water source, even if the child has had formal swimming lessons. When a young child or inexperienced swimmer is in or around water, always be within arm's length. Adults who are supervising children in the pool should not be distracted by activities such as reading, playing cards, texting or talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn. Drowning can happen very quickly and quietly. After all health-related safety measures are crossed off the list, parents are also urged to review pool toy instruction. Inflatable rafts and inner tubes, safety floatation aids and other casual pool toys come with government-regulated safety guidelines. So, whenever swimming pool toys or floatation devices are purchased, WomensForum.com suggests parents review the instructions and safety regulations when kids are present, that way they practice safe pool play at all times. For more pool safety tips, visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/. To take the Pool Safely Pledge this summer, visit http://www.poolsafely.gov/.