KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The summer heat will bring families to King County swimming beaches this Fourth of July weekend, and Public Health - Seattle & King County cautions parents to keep their toddlers and babies in leak-proof swim diapers or plastic pants while playing in the sand or wading in the water.
"Accidentally swallowing contaminated water can cause serious illness, and keeping babies properly diapered is good prevention," said Dr. Ngozi Oleru, Chief of Environmental Health for Public Health - Seattle & King County.
"Furthermore, older kids and adults should not swim when they have diarrhea since germs may wash into the water and may make other people sick," said Oleru. "In general, it is a good idea for anyone who is feeling sick to stay out of the water, for their own good as well as others."
Public Health offers additional tips for parents when they take their children to the beach in order to keep fecal matter out of the water:
- Take children for frequent bathroom breaks, because they may ask to go when it is already too late.
- Ensure that children wash their hands thoroughly before going back to the water.
- Everybody should shower before using the water.
Locally, the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation is putting up new signs with these recommendations, and other cities are following suit.
Leaky diapers, bare bottoms and people with diarrhea are not the only causes of germs in the water, which can include cryptosporidium, giardia, and salmonella, among other microorganisms. Dogs, geese, and other animals can pollute the water and should be kept off of beaches as much as possible.
Symptoms from beach-water illnesses can include skin rashes, ear, eye and respiratory infection, and, most commonly, diarrheal illness. Young children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems are the most vulnerable to contaminated water. Parents should remind children not to drink beach water.
An annoying, though not dangerous or contagious condition called swimmers' itch, is also commonly reported on King County beaches. Caused by a parasite in duck droppings, the parasite can bury into the skin if water is allowed to dry on the skin. After burrowing into the skin the parasite dies and the body reacts by forming red itchy bumps. The itching and rash usually go away within about 5 - 6 days. Affected individuals should consult their health care provider if the rash becomes infected or if the symptoms become severe.
Tips for reducing the likelihood of swimmers' itch include:
- Liberally applying a waterproof sunscreen prior to entering the water.
- Drying off after leaving the water.
- Showering immediately after leaving the water, if the facilities are available.
For more information on illnesses that can be caused by microorganisms found in beach water, visit the following web pages:
