We wouldn't dare let our kids dive into the deep end before they've mastered swimming, but when was the last time you inquired with the lifeguard about the pool's cleanliness? According to a CDC report issued Thursday, the latter is nearly as important.
The study revealed that, during routine inspections, nearly 80 percent of public swimming venues had at least one safety violation. One in eight pools had to be closed immediately due to "serious health and safety violations," ABC News reports.
It's important to note that "public pool" doesn't just refer to those at municipal community centers in this context—the CDC examined aquatic facilities at hotels, water parks, gyms, and neighborhoods and apartment complexes.
The CDC analyzed inspection data and records from 48,632 aquatic facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, New York and Texas, which contain 40% of the country's public pools. According to the report, the most common violations include: improper pH (an indicator of the water's acidity); safety equipment; and disinfectant concentration.
Without enough disinfectant, water can be a welcoming environment to parasites, noxious chemicals, and bacteria introduced by fecal accidents to thrive.
Nationwide, nearly 650 outbreaks have originated at public pools in the last 35 years, the Los Angeles Times reports. In 2007, more than 665 guests and lifeguards experienced eye and respiratory tract problems as a result of chemical exposure at an indoor water park resort in Ohio, according to the Times.
Research shows that children infected with the waterborne parasite Cryptosporidium just once are likely to suffer from severely stunted growth. In rare cases, children have died from waterborne infections caused by the pathogen E. coli.
While the CDC recommends using test strips (found at your local hardware or pool supply store) to measure water's pH and disinfectant levels, there is a more practical solution. For one, ask the lifeguard or manager about maintenance, Robert Glatter, M.D., an emergency physician at New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital told ABC News. Lifeguards should have a daily record the pool's chlorine (disinfectant) and pH levels. Also look at the visible cleanliness of the pool. You should be able to see the bottom of the pool from the deep end, said Glatter.
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