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Jeff Ellis Management Official Statement about COVID-19
Thank you to our aquatic partners for taking precautions and staying safe during these unprecedented times. Remembering that COVID-19 is a serious virus and take into consideration safety for yourself and others around you. We as Jeff Ellis Management, take your facilities safety and the safety of any participants seriously. Please keep in mind that COVID-19 is transmitted through the air and not through water. Please CLICK HERE for more information. Properly maintained swimming pools, hot tubs and spas coupled with social distancing and increased facility cleaning and disinfecting procedures of surfaces outside of the pool work in combination to keep guests and staff safe. Please CLICK HERE for information pertaining to operations, maintenance and Jeff Ellis Swimming.

Pool Maintenance and Awareness Helps Prevent Recreational Water Illnesses

Clean water in swimming pool

The most current information available from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about recreational water illnesses (RWIs) tells us we should be more aware of the steps we can take to prevent RWIs. According to the CDC, RWI outbreaks associated with swimming have significantly increased in the last two decades.

This should serve as a reminder to pool managers across the country that the occurrence of RWIs are more common than we all think. Proper pool maintenance is crucial to avoiding RWIs, and public awareness is equally important.

What are Recreational Water Illnesses?

RWIs include a variety of conditions that can affect the skin, ears, eyes, gastrointestinal system, and respiratory system. RWIs can also cause neurologic and wound infections. RWIs are caused when germs are either swallowed or inhaled. However they can also be caused simply by coming into contact with certain germs. In some cases chemicals in the water or chemicals that have evaporated from the water have been known to cause RWIs.

The most common RWI reported from pools is diarrhea, which is caused by coming into contact with any of the following germs: Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus, and E. coli. Crypto is especially hazardous as the germ is capable of staying alive in even well maintained pools for several days.

How to Prevent RWIs

In addition to pool maintenance staff, swimmers need to be proactive in protecting themselves against RWIs. The CDC recommends following the Triple A's of Healthy Swimming:

  1. Awareness
    • Avoid swallowing water
    • Take bathroom breaks
    • Never relieve yourself in the water
    • Shower before entering the water
    • Avoid swimming in pools if you have a stomach illness
  2. Action
    • Ask pool maintenance staff if pool is ready for swimming
  3. Advocacy
    • Educate other swimmers about RWIs

Even the smallest amount of fecal matter can contaminate the water. That's why showering before swimming is always recommended and it is important to encourage children to take bathroom breaks in order to avoid accidents in the pool.

If you have an aquatic facility and need proper maintenance to ensure public safety, Jeff Ellis Management offers pool management services all season long. Contact us for more information.