Prairie State Wire

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is emphasizing the importance of safety as the outdoor swimming season begins. In alignment with the CDC's Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, IDPH is offering guidance on how to enjoy water activities safely.

IDPH highlights several risks associated with swimming, including drowning, disease transmission, and pool chemical injuries. Parents are advised to ensure children learn basic swimming skills early on. Adults who are not strong swimmers should remain cautious in both pools and open water.

Recent data shows that unintentional drownings are a leading cause of accidental deaths for young children nationally. IDPH reports 101 accidental drowning deaths in Illinois during 2024, including 14 involving children aged 0-17.

"Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and swimming in Illinois’s pools, lakes and rivers is a wonderful way to cool off and enjoy summer fun," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "However, unsafe swimming can be dangerous and lead to preventable tragedies for people of all ages."

To promote safe swimming practices, IDPH recommends supervision for children at all times, enclosing pools with fencing, using life jackets while boating, and avoiding poor hygiene practices that could lead to recreational water illnesses (RWI). Diarrhea is cited as a common cause of RWIs; individuals experiencing symptoms should refrain from swimming.

Cryptosporidium (Crypto) is noted as a significant contributor to pool-related outbreaks due to its resilience against chlorine. Other germs include Giardia, norovirus, Shigella, Legionnaire’s Disease, and E. coli.

Swimmers should avoid ingesting pool water and adhere to proper hygiene practices such as showering before entering the water. Pool operators must also handle chemicals safely to prevent toxic exposure.

Swimming in natural bodies of water presents additional risks like amoeba and algae exposure. To mitigate these risks, swimmers are advised to limit nose exposure by using clips or holding their noses when diving or skiing.

For boaters, wearing life jackets is emphasized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Conservation Police who also caution against operating boats under the influence.

IDPH oversees approximately 3,200 licensed swimming facilities in Illinois which must adhere to stringent safety standards. Facility statuses can be checked through IDPH's Swimming Facility Search tool. Beach health information is available via the Illinois Beach Guard System online.