Where are you from? Are you living there right now? Is the pool safe?

Recreational Water Illness (RWI) Prevention Week- the week before Memorial Day has been designated National Recreational Water Illness (RWI) Prevention Week.

I’m sure many of us are not surprised but, the Center for Disease Control says that public pools can be a lot safer. About 1 out of 8 public pool inspections conducted in 13 states in 2008 resulted in pools being closed immediately due to serious code violations. Who had the worst pools? Child care facility pools had the highest percentage of immediate closures (17.2 percent), followed by inspections of hotel/motel pools (15.3 percent), and apartment/condo pools (12.4 percent). Inspections of kiddie/wading pools (13.5 percent) and interactive fountains (12.6 percent) had the highest percentage of disinfectant violations.

The closures could have easily been prevented. Says the CDC, improper disinfectant and pH levels in the water can result in transmission of germs, such as Shigella and norovirus, which cause gastroenteritis.

How to stay safe?

• Learn about recreational water illnesses (RWIs)
• Action
• Follow the Six Steps for Healthy Swimming:
• Don′t swim when you have diarrhea.
• Don′t swallow pool water.
• Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
• Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
• Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside.
• Wash your children thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming.
• Check pool water quality yourself using test strips purchased at a local store.

Ask the pool operator about chlorine and pH levels and the latest pool inspection score. The pH is probably the most important factor in swimming pool water and should be tested and adjusted on a weekly basis. Measuring the pH level is a way to assess the relative acidity or alkalinity of the pool water. pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14 where 1 is extremely acidic and 14 is extremely alkaline. A pH reading of 7.0 is neutral – below 7.0 is acidic – above 7.0 is alkaline.

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Sunday Stealing: The Voice Post Meme

1) What’s your middle name?
50 bucks and I’ll tell you.

2) How old are you?
Old enough to know when I’ve seen a meme question before…

3) Where are you from? Are you living there right now?
I am from planet earth and yest, I still live on earth.

4) Is it cold where you are?
It’s 80 and sunny. What say you?

5) What’s the time?

All of my watch batteries dies. It’s true.

6) What are you wearing?
Underwear and other various items.

7) What was the last thing you listened to?
My son talking about the new Zelda game for Wii.

What was the last thing you ate?
Peanuts in the shell
9) What was the last thing you watched on TV?
Star Wars is on in the other room.

10) What’s your favorite tv show? Why?
I don’t have a favorite. I have some that I like better than others.

11) Quick! Find a book, or something with text on it! Flip to a random page and post the second paragraph’s first sentence.
Quick! I’m not moving! I just sat down after mowing the lawn and doing 2 1/2 hours of yard work. If you want something to read, get it yourself!

12) What was the last movie you saw? How was it?
The Rear Window. It’s Hitchcock- what do you think?

13) Do YOU think you have an accent? Where do people in your country do people speak with strong accents?
Some folks have mentioned that I pronounce some words like I am from the north side of Chi-caw-go. Imagine that.

MONDAY MAYHEM IS THE COOLEST PLACE ON EARTH. NO REPEAT QUESTIONS. NO 12 YEAR OLD INSPIRED QUESTIONS. You may even win a free (virtual) bus ride around Hawaii if you play!