Beware: Chlorine doesn’t kill all in swimming pools!
In the USA during 1999-2000, more than 2,000 recreational water illnesses and four deaths occurred because of water system failures in recreational pools. The most common illness by far is diarrhea which affects thousands who accidentally swallow infected pool water. This was 10 times the rate of the decade before. Can you imagine how many times these figures are multiplied in a third world country where stringent public water cleanliness and safety guidelines are not enforced? As well in a tropical climate where bacteria are encouraged to grow in constant warm temperatures?
Did you know?…. On average people have about 0.14 grams of feces on their bottoms which, when rinsed off, can contaminate recreational water. People who don’t “wipe” thoroughly can add up to 2kgs of “solid” matter to a busy public swimming pool in one day!!
When you swim, some water is going to get into your mouth. For the most part, that is OK. In recreational pools chlorine is used to kill germs although it can take its sweet time killing some of them.
A particularly nasty customer that can be swimming alongside you is cryptosporidium, a parasite that laughs at chlorine and can cause illness. The approximate disinfectant time in chlorinated water for this germ is nearly seven days. In the very young (say, that newborn you are “flying” through the water) or those with immune problems, crypto can cause severe debilitating illnesses. Some pools have — charmingly — been described as “diarrhea farms.” Other unwelcome swim partners include E.coli, Giardia, and Shigella. The most common symptoms reported after swimming are:
-red eyes / eye infections
-ear infections
-skin rash / skin infection
-respiratory infections
-urinary tract infections
-diarrhea / gastric upsets
Eyeball Before You Cannonball
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using your senses to evaluate a pool before jumping in:
-Sight. The water should look clean, clear, and blue — all the way to the bottom. You should be able to see the drain and the stripes on the bottom. Be sure the water is constantly lapping over the grills to be filtered.
-Touch. The sides of the pool should be smooth, not slippery or sticky.
-Smell. Chlorine should not have a strong smell. A strong chlorine-like odor can mean chloramines — which are chemicals comprised of chlorine mixed with body oil, sweat, urine, saliva, lotions, and feces.
-Sound. Listen for pool-cleaning equipment.
How to Be a Good Pool Citizen
-Report problems to the pool manager; don’t pretend it’s “not you.”
-Don’t swim if you have diarrhea.
-Don’t swallow water — swim with your mouth closed, breathing only when your mouth is out of the water.
-Take a shower before swimming.
-Take the kids on potty breaks, whether they ask or not. Check diapers often. If you hear, “I have to go,” this can mean the child is already “going.”
-Wash kids before swimming, especially their hind parts.
-Toddlers should wear special “swim diapers” and even these are not foolproof.
-Pool owners should adhere to the instructions given for their pool disinfecting program and have their water checked on a regular basis. (There are pool companies in Bali that will do this; some laboratories in Denpasar also have this facility).
On that note, enjoy your holiday, or you day off. Don’t stop swimming, just be healthy and responsible about it.
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Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com”.
