Health officials remind Minnesotans to practice healthy swimming behaviors
Healthy swimming behaviors play an important role in stopping the spread of illnesses through recreational water, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Healthy swimming behaviors play an important role in stopping the spread of illnesses through recreational water, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Specific actions you can take to promote healthy swimming include:
•Do not go swimming if you have been ill with diarrhea in the past two weeks.
•Avoid swallowing water or getting water in your mouth.
•Shower before swimming.
•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 or beachside.
From 2000 to 2008, 20 swimming pool outbreaks and 13 beach outbreaks were identified in Minnesota.
The parasite Cryptosporidium, one of the most common waterborne disease agents, is a chlorine-resistant parasite that can survive and be transmitted even in a properly maintained pool. Three swimming pool outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis occurred in 2008.
For more information about healthy swimming, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Swimming Web page at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/.
Tags: state news, news, mdh, health, swimming
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