South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, July 17, 2013 Page 28 Health

MAJORLI

MAJOR

LIQUORS

529 Iris Drive 522-2823

Major Liquors

1.75 Liter

$2495$1495 $1098

Mon.-Thurs.8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri.-Sat., 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

$2249

Prices Good Through 07-23-13 Miller Lite...16 oz./18 Pack.....$1598

1.75 Liter 12 Pack Bottles

Spiced Rum

Jim

Captain Morgan

Beam

$164530 Pack Cans

Budweiser1.75 Liter

KeystoneLight

Regular & LightAncient Age

Swimming is the most popular recreational activity for children in the U.S. It’s also one of the best ways to get needed physical activity, have fun, and cool off in the hot summer weather. But it’s important for swimmers and hot tub users to know the steps they should take to protect themselves and others from potential health risks. According to a study of public pools done during last summer’s swim season by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a lot of germs in pool water. The study found pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause skin rashes and ear infections; Cryptosporidium and Giardia, germs that are spread through feces and cause diarrhea; and well over half of the samples tested showed E.coli, a bacteria normally found in the human gut and feces, and is a marker for fecal contamination. While that discovery may make some swimmers squeamish, there are steps that people can and should take to ensure their pool or spa water is as clean as possible, both in public and residential pools and spas. When using public swimming pools:

•Do not swim when you havediarrhea and for up to two weeks after symptoms have stopped. •Do not swallow pool water orget pool water in your mouth. •Showerbeforeswimming. •Wash your hands after usingthe toilet or changing diapers. •Take children on bathroombreaks or change diapers often. •Changechildren’sdiapers inabathroom, not at poolside. Whenusingpublicinflatableandplastic pools: Small inflatable and plasticpools are typically filled with tapwater. Some people in the United States have a disinfectant in their tap water but this is not adequate to kill germs that may get into water used for swimming. It may not be practical to kill germs by adding chlorine bleach to small pools because the chlorine dose cannot be easily determined or safely monitored. These pools also do not have filters to remove particles thatcould prevent the chlorine from working well. Using these types of pools increases the risk of spreading illness brought into the water by swimmers with a diarrheal illness. Any household deciding to use these types of small pools should follow the steps below to reduce

the spread of illness: •Do not allow a child who is illwith diarrhea or vomiting to use the pool. •Givechildrenacleansingsoapshower or bath before they swim. •Talk to parents or caregiversabout their children’s health before others use the pool. •Remindchildrentoavoidgettingpool water in their mouths. •Respondtofecesinthepoolora child with a dirty diaper. •Clear the pool of children, empty, and then clean it. In the case of diarrheal incidents, once the pool has been cleaned and is completely dry, leave it in the sun for at least four hours. •Medium and larger-sized

inflatable and plastic pools thatcannot be emptied daily should have filters and appropriatedisinfection systems that meet the same codes and requirements as full-sizedswimmingpools. In regards to hot tubs and spas: Improperly maintained spas can cause infections of the ear, eye and respiratory tract, rashes, and other illnesses. Chlorine and disinfectants help fightthesediseasesbuttheydon’twork immediately, sometimes taking hours or days to kill new infections, and some bugs are some are more resistant to chlorine than others. In addition, these chemicals evaporate more quickly because of the higher temperature of the water in the tubs, making it very important for users to ensure the hot tub they are using is maintained properly and adopt good hygiene habits, including: •Refrainfromenteringahottubwhen you have diarrhea. •Avoidswallowinghottubwateror even getting it into your mouth. •Shower or bathe with soap

before entering the hot tub. •Observe limits, if posted, onthe maximum allowable number of bathers. •Excludechildren less thanfiveyears of age from using hot tubs. •Ifpregnant,consultaphysicianbefore hot tub use, particularly in thefirsttrimester. •A well-chlorinated hot tub haslittle odor, a strong chemical smell indicates a maintenance problem. •Thesidesofthehottubshouldbe smooth; tiles should not be sticky or slippery. •Pumps and filtration systemsmake noise and you should hear them running while you’re using a hot tub. •Hot tub temperatures shouldnot exceed 104º F. For more information about illness related to swimming pools and spas visit www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming. (Deanna Herbert is the communications specialist for the Northeast Colorado Health Department. She can be reached at 522-3741 x1257, or email deannah@nchd.org.)

There's more than a 'P' in some swimming pools

By Deanna HerbertCommunications Specialist

The family of Pauline Nelson is hosting a card shower in honor of her 86th birthday. Pauline was born July 20 in Brighton. Cards, memories and well wishes may be sent to Pauline at 15179 CR 17, Sterling, CO 80751.