Swim healthy this summer

WHILE swimming is fun and a great way to stay fit and active, sometimes germs can contaminate the pool water, which can make people sick.

Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton said chlorine kills most germs in treated public pools but some germs, such as cryptosporidium, are highly resistant to chlorine at normal concentrations.

Dr Sutton said these germs can live in pool water for days and make people sick.

Outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis (crypto) associated with pools occur when swimmers accidentally swallow pool water contaminated with the germ.

As of December 14, there have been 1,146 cases of crypto notified to the Department of Health and Human Services in 2017 compared to 779 cases for the same time period in 2016.

This year, there have been 18 outbreaks of crypto associated with public swimming pools, compared to five in 2016.

“Everyone has a responsibility to keep themselves and others safe and healthy and help keep the pool clean and free of germs,” Dr Sutton said.

He advised five simple steps people can take to help keep the water clean:

• Do not swim if you have diarrhoea or for 14 days after a diagnosis of crypto
• Shower and wash with soap, especially your bottom, before swimming
• Wash your hands with soap after going to the toilet or changing a nappy
• Change nappies in nappy change areas only, and
• Avoid swallowing pool water.

“Even in the best maintained pools, germs on your body can wash off and contaminate the water,” Dr Sutton said.

“You and your children are more likely to be infectious when not feeling well. Showering with soap before swimming will help keep germs out of the water.

“If you have vomiting or diarrhoea, stay out of the water. Even when you are recovering, stay out of the water until the symptoms have stopped.

“To prevent further spread of crypto, it is important for swimmers who have had crypto not to swim for two weeks after diarrhoea stops.”

The Department’s Healthy Swimming campaign aims to educate aquatic facility managers and patrons about what healthy swimming behaviour is and why it is important, and encourages everyone to be healthy swimmers.

Head to betterhealth.vic.gov.au/healthyswimming.