What not to do? Don’t spike your pool water with chemical germ-killers such as bleach or chlorine it won’t work for several reasons, shared the CDC.Īnd if a child does ingest any significant amount of rainwater or other stagnant outdoor collection of water, Chung says, “caregivers should monitor closely for any signs or symptoms of associated sickness. Ha! Can you imagine? A better idea is to keep eyes on kiddos as they play near any water feature, and make sure to clean out all playtime water structures, like pools, pads, slides and tables, after each use, and definitely at the end of every day. Simply follow them around all day with a tall, cool glass of filtered water, complete with crazy straw. Stick To The Sippy Cup: What Can I Do To Prevent My Kids From Drinking Outdoor Water? Simply put, drinking it may lead to sickness.
After a day, there’s really nothing to kill any bacteria or viruses that could be in that water, Brownwood tells Romper. The CDC shared that such germs that can prompt diarrhea or vomit can include Escherichia coli, and shigella. But when children are brought into the equation, and they play in and around the water, Chung tells Romper, “entry of bacteria and other contaminants is inevitable.” Consider that fecal matter can transmit germs, as can vomit. “Any stagnant collection of water poses a risk of infection if ingested,” says Chung. There are many ways that the water in inflatable pools can lead to potential illness. But some bigger health issues can arise if someone drinks water that’s been sitting outside for some time in, say, a water table or kiddie pool. If you steal a sip from the hose, you’re likely going to be OK. To learn more about the quality of your drinking water, and how it might be treated to keep away harmful bacteria (for example, if chlorine or chloramine is brought into the water as a disinfectant, explained the CDC), check out a report on your local water supply. Therefore, as it flows through the pipes for days, it’s not growing bacteria, says Brownwood. “This risk increases further if rainwater has collected and remained stagnant for some period of time, particularly in warmer climates.” The Kiddie Pool Conundrum: What Happens If My Child Drinks Old Pool Water?īreaking it down, it’s good to note that water companies can treat water from different sources to make it safe before it travels into your home, as shared the CDC. Richard Chung, associate professor of pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine. The bottom line? “Whether due to environmental pollutants, other chemicals, bacteria, parasites, or other contaminants, drinking rain water can definitely pose a risk to a child’s health,” says Dr. “It’s probably fine for watering plants… but definitely you wouldn’t want to drink it.” So if you’ve got water resting in a rain-catching barrel for an extended period of time, yes, it might be harboring bacteria or other potential pathogens, Brownwood tells Romper. As an example, Brownwood notes the possibility of water mingling with decomposing leaves on the way down a drainpipe. division of drinking water, California state water resources control board. And if it hits your housetop or slides down a gutter before dropping into a barrel for collection, the bacterial possibilities are even less desirable, says Robert Brownwood, P.E. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared that a water droplet can catch dirt, debris, or even smog on its decent from the sky.
Watching a toddler stick out their tongue to catch a bit of rain can make an adorable mental picture. But if you do find yourself in a situation which you’re contemplating a call to your pediatrician, here are a few more facts to know about the safety of drinking outdoor water. This is one of the best ways to prevent the potential ingestion of bacteria via outdoor water. Maintaining water tables and any water-holding basin just requires some maintenance, like emptying and washing each water feature daily before setting it out to dry. No need to banish the kiddie pools, sprinklers, and splash-pads. Hey, they’re learning! So as we enter into a hopeful summer season filled with more socializing than our last, we examine one of the likely scenarios that comes with enjoying outdoor splash-time fun: What to do when your kid drinks stagnant outdoor water. It’s all but inevitable that, at some point, they’re going to drop a remote control in the toilet, eat a fistful of sand from the local sandbox, and help themselves to a sip of water from the kiddie pool. Toddlers can be spontaneous, emotionally driven beings.
0 kommentar(er)
