Healthy Swimming Information

Swimming in a well maintained swimming pool will reduce your likelihood of developing a recreational water illness (RWI) as many of the germs are killed by chlorine. However, chlorine doesn’t work right away, therefore, it takes time to kill the germs that cause RWIs. In fact, some of these germs are resistant to chlorine and can live in chlorinated pools for days.

The public’s awareness of RWIs and appropriate swimming behaviors plays a pivotal role in RWI transmission.  Swimmers who are ill with diarrhea may contaminate swimming venues; this poses health risks for the healthy swimmers in the pool.  In addition, high-risk groups such as the young, the elderly, the pregnant, and the immunosuppressed should also be advised about RWI prevention and healthy swimming behaviors.

Healthy swimming behaviors include the following:

• Don’t swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread organisms in the water and make other people sick.
• Don’t swallow pool or lake water. In fact, avoid getting water in your mouth.
• Practice good hygiene: shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often. Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.  Wash your child thoroughly with soap and water before swimming.
• Avoid swimming in a pool that has cloudy or off-colored water.  It is especially important not to swim in a pool when you cannot see the main bottom drain.

It is important to remember lakes are not chlorinated and could pose a risk for an RWI including primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).  PAM is a very rare, usually fatal disease caused by an ameba that flourishes in very warm surface waters such as lakes, ponds, and rivers.  The warm water temperatures of the hot summer months allow the ameba to multiply.  The risk may be greater in very warm and shallow waters.  PAM may be prevented by avoiding diving or dunking your head in warm, shallow bodies of fresh water. In addition, holding the nose shut or using nose clips will prevent the water from entering the nose.

Healthy Swimming Fact Sheets and Resources:

Recreational Water Illnesses

External Healthy Swimming Resources:

Healthy Swimming Frequently Asked Questions (CDC)