Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Swim Safely
Swimming is a fun, active, and healthy way to spend leisure time. Take a few minutes to keep health and safety in mind to help prevent illness and injury.
- Ask a buddy to join you when swimming so you don’t swim alone.
- Choose swimming sites that have lifeguards.
- Avoid drinking alcohol before and during swimming.
- Don’t swallow pool water.
- Don't swim when you have diarrhea. Germs can spread in the water and make other people sick.
- Take a shower and wash your child before swimming.
- Take your kids on bathroom breaks, or check diapers often.
- Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside. Germs can spread in and around the pool.
- Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers before getting in the pool.
- Watch children in and around water at all times.
- Make sure to keep your ears as dry as possible to help prevent swimmer’s ear.
Learn More
Recreational Water Illness and Injury (RWII)
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Content Source: CDC Office
of Women’s Health
Page last modified: July 3, 2012
Page last reviewed: July 3, 2012
Page last modified: July 3, 2012
Page last reviewed: July 3, 2012