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Prevent Poop in Pools Please

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

After reading Barfblog’s post on poop and pools, we decided to share some of our thoughts on poop and pools:

• Do not allow your pets to swim in pools with humans. Even if you don’t think your pet will poop in a pool (or swimming beach area), poop happens.
• Before going into a pool, clean your entire body as well as you would want others to clean themselves. Do unto others . . . .
• Teach your children to get out of the swimming pool if they need to urinate or have a bowl movement—PLEASE.

• Do not swim in a pool with others if you have diarrhea. Granted, you will probably not lose it in the pool, but diarrhea is an indication of infection with potentially-dangerous pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7 (possible scenario: boy eats hamburger, gets E. coli, swims in pool with other children and spreads the illness to those children). Don’t put others at risk.
• And now for something completely controversial. Do not have an infant in diapers in a pool with others, especially other young children, elderly people and people with compromised immune systems. Swimming diapers are not guaranteed to keep poop in the diaper. Even trace amounts of poop leaking into a pool from a diaper can cause illness. We are sure there are many who disagree with this. We welcome your comments below.

Do you have any thoughts on poop and pools? Provide your comments below.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on May 23, 2008 (boomark / email).