Healthy and Safe Swimming Summer 2021 Toolkit

Social Media Blurbs

Hashtag:  #swimhealthyVA

Website:  swimhealthyva.com

General

It’s Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, learn more at swimhealthyVA.com

VDH monitors water quality weekly at public beaches in coastal Virginia. Follow us to receive alerts: twitter.com/vdhbeach

Drowning is a leading cause of death among Virginia’s children 1 to 4 years old. Always supervise children when they are around water.

Don’t swallow the water you swim in! 1 mouthful of water w/germs can make you sick for 2-3 weeks

Diarrhea & swimming don’t mix! Don’t swim or let your kids swim when sick with diarrhea

Germs in the places we swim can cause skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. Learn more at swimhealthyVA.com

Don’t drink and swim.  Alcohol slows your reactions and can make you make bad decisions. Stay out of the water if you’ve been drinking.

Never swim alone. If an accident happens, having a friend with you could save your life.

Pool Safety

Don’t let kids run around the pool. The ground can be slippery, and falling on concrete can cause injury.

Chlorine doesn’t work instantly—some germs can survive in pools for days. Don’t drink the water you swim in!

Properly maintain pools and spas to control the growth of Legionella bacteria, which can cause severe respiratory infections

Help prevent germs from getting in pool water – take children on bathroom breaks and check swim diapers every hour

Natural Waters

Swim safe!  Don’t dive or jump in creeks and ponds you don’t know. Hidden rocks and snags can injure you.

Water’s up? Don’t swim. Rainwater can cause sewer overflows and wash animal waste into rivers, and the germs could make you sick. Stay out a few days.

Be especially careful when swimming with children in natural waters. Murky water and unexpected drop-offs can increase the risk of drowning.

Watch out for riptides and strong currents at the beach, especially after stormy weather.

Don’t swim in rivers with strong currents and near dams. You could get pinned under the water. Choose calm areas to swim.

Dead animals are a sign of possible harmful algae blooms. Don’t swim where you see them.

Even crystal clear lakes and rivers can have germs. Don’t get water in your mouth while swimming.

Natural waters can have unexpected hazards! Never swim alone.

Headed to the lake or beach this summer? Learn tips for spotting harmful algal blooms swimhealthyva.com

Swimming in water with harmful algal blooms can cause illness. Learn more before swimming this summer swimhealthyva.com

Limiting water going up the nose when swimming can help prevent infection from the amoeba Naegleria fowleri.