Swimming Pool Safety.
Then, do your part to protect other swimmers by following these guidelines:
- Be aware that swim diapers won't prevent leaks or contamination. Encourage your children to visit the potty before taking a dip.
- Before swimming, wash your young child (especially his or her bottom), thoroughly with soap and water.
- Take your child to the bathroom often during a day of swimming. Wash your hands and your child's thoroughly with soap after a potty break.
- Keep kids out of the pool altogether if they have any sign of diarrhea.
- Change diapers in the bathroom, not at poolside.
- If you see feces in the pool, tell a lifeguard.
Betsy Rubiner, based in Des Moines, Iowa, specializes in writing about children and families. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Boston Globe, among other publications.