Nothing will keep babies from pooping in pools -- so ban babies

Posted: March 10th, 2008 - 7:32pm by Doug Powell

The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board came out against the Utah Department of Health's recommendation of tight-fitting swim diapers and/or waterproof pants in its attempt to keep toddlers in public swimming pools, and the cryptosporidium parasite out.

The editorial says,

"Last year, after the outbreak, the state health department banned children under age 5 from public pools. It was a tough decision. But it was the right decision. …

"Swim diaper requirements will be difficult to enforce. And, unless the diapers
"waterproof" pants have elastic bands that are tighter than tourniquets, water-soluble fecal matter will still leak out.

"Public education won't work either. It might keep adults from spreading the parasite by showering thoroughly and abstaining from swimming after battling diarrhea, but nothing, short of a cork or maybe duct tape, will keep babies from pooping in pools."

The editorial concludes,

"If state regulators don't have the intestinal fortitude to ban babies from pools, local health departments should."
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Categories: Food Safety Policy
Tags: Babies, Cryptosporidium, Utah

Comments

C. Brodeur says:

?We understand, the editorial also says, why the health department is hesitant to ban babies. (...) Learning to swim at a young age can prevent drownings.?How many drownings compared to how many deaths caused by Cryptosporidium?Should we also banish swimming because of drowning possibility?Yes, for sure, banishing babies at all could prevent many diseases! ;-)

Posted on March 11th, 2008 - 8:22am

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