Recreational Sanitation Program
- Conduct routine inspections of indoor and outdoor swimming pools and bathing beaches.
- Investigate complaints regarding pool sanitation.
- Regulate and inspect tanning spas.
With warm weather fast approaching, local swimming pools are gearing up for another season. The Tazewell County Health Department would like to remind you that healthy swimming behaviors are needed to ensure a safe swimming experience for all.
Recreational water illnesses are caused by waterborne germs like Cryptosporidium, Giardia L, E Coli 0157:H7, and Shigella. These germs have made many people sick in the past.
These germs are spread by accidentally swallowing pool water that has been contaminated with fecal matter by someone that has diarrhea. Pool water is shared by every swimmer and is not sterile. Chlorine kills these germs; however, it does not work right away. It takes time to kill germs and some germs like crypto can live in pools for days. Even the best maintained pools can spread illness.
To protect you and your family, the following guidelines for healthy swimming should be exercised:
- Don't swim when you have diarrhea...this is especially important for kids in diapers. You can spread germs into the water and make other people sick. It is recommended that persons refrain from using a pool for two weeks after their last diarrhea incident.
- All children who are not toilet trained must wear tightly fitting rubber or plastic pants. Ask the swimming pool operator if they are available for purchase or check local retailers.
- Don't swallow the pool water. In fact, try your best to avoid even having water get in your mouth.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or after changing diapers. You can protect others by being aware that germs on your body end up in the water.
- Take your children on bathroom breaks often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.
- Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool and spread illness.
- Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. We all have invisible amounts of fecal matter on our bottoms that end up in the pool.
For more information, please contact our department at 309-929-0272 or for more information on Cryptosporidiosis, view the Cryptosporidiosis (PDF) document.