When illness interrupts your swimming lesson…
Coughs and Colds
With children often experiencing 10 colds per year you may wonder when they will ever catch a break (and for you, a good night’s sleep!?) If your child is suffering from a common cold they should be able to attend swimming lessons. If the cold is accompanied by high temperatures, if they are complaining of pain and headaches or seem tired it would be best to keep them home for a little TLC. Also, in smaller indoor pools the chemicals and chlorine can exacerbate existing symptoms including coughing and asthma.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious infection (either a virus or bacteria). Regardless of the pool, children should be kept away from swimming lessons, so they do not come into contact with other children in the group, contaminate water or spread the infection through sharing towels, goggles or other objects. As long as discharge from their eyes continue, they remain infected.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
An article published in December, 2017 highlights the need for people to stay out of swimming pools for at least two weeks after they recover from diarrhea to avoid spreading gastro. Not only can common stomach viruses spread through the smallest drop of infected water but there is also the risk of ‘cryptosporidiosis’.
“Please consider your fellow swimmers and do not to contribute to the spread of illness and if you are unsure, please consult your local GP.“Coughs and Colds
With children often experiencing 10 colds per year you may wonder when they will ever catch a break (and for you, a good night’s sleep!?) If your child is suffering from a common cold they should be able to attend swimming lessons. If the cold is accompanied by high temperatures, if they are complaining of pain and headaches or seem tired it would be best to keep them home for a little TLC. Also, in smaller indoor pools the chemicals and chlorine can exacerbate existing symptoms including coughing and asthma.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious infection (either a virus or bacteria). Regardless of the pool, children should be kept away from swimming lessons, so they do not come into contact with other children in the group, contaminate water or spread the infection through sharing towels, goggles or other objects. As long as discharge from their eyes continue, they remain infected.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
An article published in December, 2017 highlights the need for people to stay out of swimming pools for at least two weeks after they recover from diarrhea to avoid spreading gastro. Not only can common stomach viruses spread through the smallest drop of infected water but there is also the risk of ‘cryptosporidiosis’.
“Please consider your fellow swimmers and do not to contribute to the spread of illness and if you are unsure, please consult your local GP.“
Cryptosporidiosis (or ‘crypto’) is caused by the cryptosporidium parasite which is spread in pools and from one person to another.
An increase in the instance of Cryptosporidiosis is often seen in summer and water parks and public pools have had to implement maintenance systems, and filtering fountains to assist in the prevention of further outbreaks.
Some tips provided to stop the spread of vomiting and diarrhea viruses are staying away from lessons for at least two weeks after symptoms disappear, wash children before entering the pool, regularly take children to the toilet, wash your hands with soap and water before and after nappy changing.
Some of these facts are simply common sense. Please consider your fellow swimmers and do not to contribute to the spread of illness and if you are unsure, please consult your local GP.