What is a healthy swimming pool?
What is a healthy swimming pool?
Obviously, one free from disease causing organisms and bacteria, with clear sparkling water and well maintained surrounds. Well managed swimming pools are healthy environments, where the risk of infection or illness is low.
Pool users can be affected by disease-causing microorganisms (pathogens), transmitted by
contaminated pool water, contaminated surfaces or person-to-person contact. Illnesses such as gastro and infections of the skin, eyes or respiratory system may result. Swallowing pool water can increase the risk of disease. Even in well maintained pools, some pathogens such as Cryptosporidium can remain infectious. Patrons with diarrhoea and nappy-aged children pose the largest risk of contamination to pools and facilities.
Pool users may contaminate the pool with faecal material, body fluids, hair, skin, lotions and cosmetics. Small amounts of faecal material can come from the skin of bathers, particularly those with diarrhoea or children wearing nappies. Bathers may continue shedding infectious pathogens for days or weeks after their diarrhoea symptoms cease. Large amounts may arise from faecal accidents.
To prevent contamination, pool users who have had a diarrhoeal illness should not use any swimming pool until symptoms cease. If a person has a confirmed diagnosis of an infection with Cryptosporidium (cryptosporidiosis), they should not swim for two weeks after symptoms have ceased.
Swimmer hygiene All patrons should be encouraged by staff to shower with soap before
entering the pool and after going to the toilet. Most people have small amounts of faecal material on their perianal region, which can transfer pathogens into the water. Appropriate signage in change rooms and toilets can encourage patrons to adopt more hygienic behaviours. The pre-swim shower will wash contaminants down the drain, not into your pool, but is still not enough for patrons with diarrhoeal illness.
Swimmers with diarrhoea People with diarrhoeal illness can experience liquid faecal accidents, often undetectable in swimming pool settings. These types of accidents may contain huge amounts of pathogens, which may then infect other bathers. After recovery from diarrhoeal illness, patrons can continue to shed pathogens for days, or even weeks. Pool users and staff who have a diarrhoea l illness should not enter the pool until after symptoms cease.
In the case of confirmed diagnosis or outbreak of Cryptosporidium infections, users and staff should not enter the pool for two weeks after symptoms have ceased. All change rooms and toilet facilities should contain appropriate signs with this message.
Non-toilet trained infants Infant ‘aqua-nappies’ and swim pants are commonly used, but may give parents and pool staff a false sense of security about faecal contamination. There is no
scientific evidence to suggest that they can prevent faeces (particularly if liquid) from leaking into the pool. Parents should be reminded of the importance of not swimming with diarrhoea and waiting for the symptoms stop before swimming again. Regular nappy changing and frequent trips to the toilet can further reduce the chance of a faecal accident. Prohibit nappy changing at poolside, as this may contaminate the surfaces of the pool deck.
If you child is showing any signs of sickness (runny nose, fever, cough) should not participate in swimming classes. We strive to maintain a safe and clean facility for everyone.
For parents of babies and toddlers that are not toilet trained we suggest that you dress them in swim wear when you arrive at our facility.
Something that you probably haven’t thought about before. Poo in the pool! Yes, It does happen! And it most commonly happnes when babies or toddlers are not wearing the right type of nappy or the nappy is not properly fitted.
When it does happen there is a snowballing effect, it causes health risks, lessons are cancelled and we even have to close the pool. Which means many children are missing out on their favourite activity.
The dangers of pool contamination.