Stay Safe On The Water & Be Aware Of Illnesses

No matter what time of year it is, the Pacific Northwest's waters can be appealing places to have fun.

However, lakes, rivers and beaches can be dangerous places with high risks of injury and illness if you're not aware of the safety concerns.

Water Safety Tips

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has many safety tips and resources to help you and your loved ones ensure your good time isn't ruined.

Whether you're heading out to the lake, river, ocean or Puget Sound, you should first be aware of the time of year and how that impacts the water.

While summertime brings significantly warmer temperatures, that doesn't mean the water is warm. Even if the water's surface feels bearable, just beneath the surface could be significantly colder and lead to hypothermia.

Additionally, autumn can be unpredictable, with warm temperatures early but potential heavy rains throughout.

Always have someone out of the water supervising swimmers, especially if there are children in the water.

You also shouldn't test your limits according to your swimming ability as open water is much more difficult to swim in compared to pools. To avoid risking your safety, you should:

• Swim in life-guarded areas, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.
• Avoid murky waters and areas where two rivers converge as it can be difficult to find someone that's gone under and often currents don't seem to be going as fast as they really are.
• Wear a life jacket when in a boat and when swimming if you are not a strong swimmer.
• Stay sober when on or in the water as alcohol will likely increase the effects of factors like temperature and weather.
• Be aware of beach statuses and/or any potential weather changes in the area. Storms can move in quickly, and beach advisories can help you prevent catching any illnesses if you're heading into the water.

If you have any conditions or risk factors that may be aggravated by heading out onto or the water, you should discuss your plans with your primary care provider. Establishing care with a primary care provider can help you learn more about your risk factors and how your family history may impact your wellness.

Water-Borne Illnesses

There are a number of illnesses that the DOH lists as recreational water illnesses, which you can be at risk of contracting when in a pool, spa, lake, river or ocean.

The most common illnesses fall into three categories: stomach and intestinal, skin irritations and respiratory. Some of the most common illnesses include:

• Cryptosporidium (Crypto): One of the most common causes of diarrhea from water recreation in the U.S., Crypto is passed through people's stool. The germ is resistant to chlorine and is often caught through swallowing water. If you are experiencing diarrhea, you should not go swimming.
• Swimmer's Ear: An infection of the outer ear canal, swimmer's ear can impact anyone but is most common in children. Symptoms include ear pain, itchiness, redness, swelling and pus draining from the infected ear. Swimmer's ear is caused by water staying in the ear canal for long periods of time and allowing germs to infect the skin. To avoid swimmer's ear, try keeping ears dry or, if water gets in the ear, tilt your head with the ear facing down and pull your earlobe in different directions to help the water drain.
• Legionellosis: Legionnaire disease is a serious disease that leads to pneumonia. The germ that causes the disease can be found in streams and ponds and infects people who breath in contaminated water vapor or steam. Early symptoms include body pain and weakness, headache, fever, chills and cough.

If you suspect you have contracted a water-borne illness, you should make an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss your symptoms. To learn more about primary care or to find a primary care physician that's right for you, please visit www.evergreenhealth.com/primary-care.