Water: no place for poop

A few tips for keeping diarrhea out of your summer plans

This article was published on 07.02.15

It's swimming season, which offers a chance to cool off as well as an outlet for healthy physical activity. It also means we're at more risk of contracting RWIs (recreational water illnesses) as a result of parasites, germs or bacteria from someone with diarrhea being spread to others in the pool, hot tub, creek or other body of water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following recommendations to keep all of us from getting an RWI:

• Don't get in the water if you have diarrhea.

• Shower before entering the water.

• No peeing or pooping in the water.

• Don't swallow the water.

• Get kids out of water for regular bathroom breaks.

• Check diapers regularly.