Healthy Swimming and Pool Safety
Learn what you can do to keep you and others safe in the pool.
What is Crypto?
Crypto is a germ that causes diarrhea. Crypto, short for Cryptosporidium, is
found in infected people's stool and cannot be seen by the naked eye. This
germ is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive for long
periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine disinfection found in
pools.
How is Crypto spread at aquatics facilities?
Crypto is not spread by contact with blood. Crypto can be spread:
- By swallowing recreational water contaminated with Crypto.
Recreational water is water from swimming pools, hot tubs, Jacuzzis,
fountains, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, or streams that can be
contaminated with sewage or feces from humans or animals.
- By putting something in your mouth or accidentally swallowing
something that has come in contact with the stool of a person or animal
infected with Crypto.
- By swallowing Crypto picked up from surfaces (such as lounge chairs,
picnic tables, bathroom fixtures, changing tables) contaminated with
stool from an infected person.
What can I do to protect myself?
Healthy Swimming behaviors are needed to protect you and your kids from
recreational water illnesses (RWIs) and will help stop germs from getting in
the pool in the first place.
Here are six "PLEASE" that promote Healthy Swimming:
- Please don't swim when you have diarrhea or within two weeks of
having diarrhea.
- Please don't swallow the pool water.
- Please practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash
your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Please take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
- Please change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.
- Please wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with
soap and water before swimming.
From
www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming
Content Source:
Division of Parasitic
Diseases
National Center for Zoonotic,
Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases
Page last modified: February 12, 2008
City of Mesa Crypto Brochure -
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