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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2010

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CONTACT:  Beth Kaplan, (608) 267-3810

RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESS PREVENTION WEEK STARTS MAY 24th

MADISON-State health officials are marking the upcoming Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week by urging everyone to take some basic precautions while having fun in the water.

"After a long hard winter, many of us look forward to our water recreation fun," said Dr. Seth Foldy, State Health Officer. "You can have fun in the water but you should be aware that contaminated water can make you ill."

Foldy said people can protect themselves and their loved ones by following some basic precautions:

  • Be sure to supervise children whenever they go swimming.
  • Practice good hygiene. Shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
  • Don't swallow the pool water and avoid getting water in your mouth.
  • Don't swim when you have diarrhea. Germs can be spread in the water and make people sick.
  • To stop the spread of germs, change diapers in a bathroom, not poolside.

Recreational water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms including skin, ear, respiratory, eye and wound infections. The most commonly reported illness is diarrhea, which can be caused by germs such as cryptosporidium, giardia, shigella and E. coli.

Foldy said the Division of Public Health and some local health departments inspect pools and water parks to ensure water quality and safety. "Local health departments also monitor water quality at some of our most popular beaches and post advisories when conditions are not safe," he said.

The Department of Natural Resources also monitors water quality at many of the most popular state park beaches, and protects our lakes and rivers from pollution that can harm swimmers.

For more information regarding Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week and healthy swimming, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.

For information on safe boating, visit the Department of Natural Resources web site at: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/boat/.

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Last Revised:  September 05, 2012