For those that do properties with public pools

[Barry Adair]

http://www.nspf.org/PreventionAdvisor.html

How Well Do Swim Diapers Work?
How well do they contain a watery diarrhea accident typical of a Cryptosporidium (Crypto) infected child?

Here are some results from a UNC - Charlotte research study by James Amburgey, Ph.D., Michael J. Arrowood, Ph.D., and Roy R. Fielding, B.A., M.Ed. that examined how well a variety of swim diapers trap or release microspheres that mimic Crypto. This work was presented at the 2008 World Aquatic Health™ Conference.


What percentage of the 10 million Crypto-like particles remain in a swim diaper 5 minutes after a release event? The answer is that only 10-62% of Crypto remain in the swim diaper after 5 minutes. In the majority of these experiments (shown in the figure above), more than 50% of these 5-micron sized particles were released within the first 2 minutes. Whether you release 3.8, 5, or 9 million Crypto into the pool, a serious problem is created for the swimmers. Therefore, swim diapers are not the best solution.

Working to prevent fecal accidents remains the best defense. Parents and children must be educated about the Six "PLEAs" recommended by the CDC for protection against recreational water illnesses:

PLEASE do not swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
PLEASE do not swallow pool water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
PLEASE practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
PLEASE take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean it's too late.
PLEASE change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside.
PLEASE wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming.
For more information on Crypto and to download the CDC poster on the Six "PLEAs" for Protection against RWIs, go to the Crypto Tool Kit on our website at http://www.nspf.org/CryptoToolkit.html. In the event fecal accidents occur, it is important to note that very high chlorine levels are needed to inactivate Crypto. As a result, operators should consider other techniques at their facility to help inactivate Crypto and to reduce the risk of RWI. For example, ultraviolet light (UV) systems or ozone systems have been shown to inactivate Crypto. For more information about these techniques, WAHC seminars have been posted online at www.eProAcademy.org. Dr. Amburgey and his colleagues have also shown that water clarifiers can help sand filters to remove the vast majority of Crypto as it passes through a sand filter.


Take Home Messages on Reducing Crypto Outbreaks:

Educating patrons on the Six "PLEAs" is the key to preventing Crypto outbreaks.
On their own, sand filters are not very efficient at removing Crypto (about 2 days to remove 90% and close to a week to remove 99.9% Crypto).
With proper water clarifier use, 99.6% of the Crypto can be removed more quickly (i.e., with a single passage through the filter) versus 23.3% without clarifier.
Regular use of water clarifiers can help mitigate Crypto outbreaks.
Consider other lines of defense at your facility including UV, Ozone, or enhanced filtration to reduce the risk of RWI outbreaks.

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we had a few outbreaks last year