Splash

  • Posted: June 30th, 2011 - 5:41pm by Doug Powell

    As the temperature climbed to 105F today in Manhattan (Kansas) I was once again thankful for City Park, down the street, with it’s groovy new splash and water park.

    Two-and-a-half-year-old Sorenne hasn’t had an accident – yet – but who knows if she will.

    It’s a tough balancing act for city types – public health versus cool relief.

    WLWT repots that children who are not toilet trained can again swim in public pools in Northern Kentucky, under revised guidelines issued by the Northern Kentucky Health Department on Thursday.

    The restriction, in place since June 3, has been part of an effort to stop the spread of shigella. More than 100 cases of shigella have been reported in Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties since April. Typically, about 25 cases are reported for the entire year.

    "When faced with a shigella outbreak, a big concern is that the bacteria, and other similar illnesses, could infect a larger population through local swimming pools," said Dr. Lynne M. Saddler, District Director of Health, in a news release.

    "The restriction on diapers in pools was an effective strategy. In past shigella outbreaks, when restrictions were not in place, we saw a significant increase of shigella cases and other recreational water illnesses in June. This June, with restrictions in place, we have not seen as many cases of shigella, or other illnesses, including cryptosporidium."

    Other efforts to contain the Shigella outbreak will continue, focusing on child care centers and swimming pool facilities, officials said.

    And keep those chlorine levels up.
     

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  • Posted: August 14th, 2010 - 12:27am by Doug Powell

    Wandering around Brisbane on a Saturday afternoon we came upon the splash park and beach at Southbank, close to downtown.

    Sorenne did some impromptu playing, and I noticed at least three little kids running around naked. The lifeguard soon happened along and told the parents to at least put a diaper on the toddlers. I asked the lifeguard, was that to prevent little ones pooping in the splash park and he said, he didn’t know, it was just policy.

    It’s a good policy.

    WIS reports the Splash Pad at Drew Wellness Center is back open after being closed for nearly a month when a child was found sick with a case of the parasite cryptosporidium.

    Since then, the city has revamped its procedures for keeping track of how the pad is maintained.

    Ray Borders-Gray with the Drew Wellness Center, said,

    "After what happened, we took a good hard look how we were doing business. The standard Operating Procedures for the Splash Pad is now written down, all staff have taken a look at it, the standards are now here on site, so if anyone has any questions about what should happen, when it should happen. …

    "We are asking people to wear the proper swim attire. We want to make sure the little ones are in the diaper swim pants and we ask that people do not bring their pets to the Splash Pad."
     

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