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Central Region Groundwater Website
Click here to check the current National Threat Advisory Level
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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.
WEBSITE LINK:
Illinois Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code.
Healthy Swimming
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
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:
1) 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 diarrheal incident.
2) 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.
3) Don't swallow the pool water. In fact, try your best to avoid even having
water get in your mouth.
4) 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.
5) Take your children on bathroom breaks often. Waiting to hear "I have to go"
may mean that it's too late.
6) Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to
surfaces and objects in and around the pool and spread illness.
7) 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) 925-5511 or
477-2223, extension 272, or for more information on Cryptosporidiosis,
click here.
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