Indoors and outdoors alike, naturally occurring and human created, many take delight in waterful activities. Accordingly, to ensure proper safety and attentiveness there are simple measures we can apply to protect ourselves. Whereas, if not exercising a certain degree of caution one's entire day, week or life could be ruined.
Not all is as it seems at first glance, even in crystal clear lakes a variety of pathogens are lying dormant in sediment, floating in water or suspended atop a layer of biofilm. Any affliction originating from these bacteria are known as Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs), an all-encompassing group of waterborne symptoms which can include diarrhea, skin infections, fever, nausea and Meningitis.
RWIs can be acquired by swallowing, inhaling or touching contaminated bodies of water, along with coming into contact with disinfectant chemicals. Notably, some common contagions are Cryptosporidium, Legionella, Giardia, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli.
Ponds, lakes or rivers with an off-putting odor can be indicative of a toxic Algae bloom. Circled above far right, one form of Algae that's easily noticed because of its bluish-green color is Cyanobacteria. Coming into direct contact with Cyanobacteria can cause skin and eye irritation or if ingested, afflict Liver damage, nerve damage, headaches, digestive issues and muscle pain.
Circled above far left, with a special sense of fear, the deadliest of all is Naegleria fowleri, known as Brain-Eating Amoeba. This frightening pathogen travels into the Brain when contaminated freshwater is forced up the nasal cavity, causing Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Alarmingly, Naegleria fowleri can even be found in improperly maintained municipal tap water.
Between 1962 and 2017, there have been four survivors out of one hundred and forty-three documented incidents of PAM in the United States. The most recent survivors were twelve year old Kali Hardig from Arkansas in 2013, who acquired it at a water park, and sixteen year old Sebastian DeLeon from Florida in 2016, respectively. An unidentified eight year old from Texas also contracted PAM in 2013 and was able to fight off Naegleria fowleri, yet suffered irreparable, debilitating Brain damage.
All three were cured by an experimental drug named Miltefosine in combination with conventional treatments. Recently, thirteen drugs, including Tamoxifen and Prozac, have been tested by University of California, San Diego researchers to be more effective medications for PAM in laboratory studies.
Entirely avoidable, mini-epidemics are primarily being caused by a lack of human hygiene. Chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs and water slides are also hosts to a plethora of sickening pathogens, especially those located on the premises of hotels, motels and resorts.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report detailing waterborne outbreaks between 2000 and 2014 originating from public and private swimming establishments. Upwards of twenty-seven thousand infections occurred, with Cryptosporidium causing eighty-seven percent of all incidents because it takes multiple days of chlorine exposure to be killed.
Besides having personal access to one's private, properly maintained pool, the cleanest body of water can be regarded as the ocean. Disinfected naturally by salt, constant rotation and sunlight, the principle worries would be rip currents, touchy-feely Sharks, Jelly Fish, occasional Algal blooms known as Red Tide, disturbed Stingrays and localized pollution.
All told, an absolutely dire fact from CDC for children aged between one through fourteen years old, drowning is the second highest cause of accidental deaths, with vehicle collisions being first. When swimming, sailing, surfing, kayaking or rafting, it's imperative to always remain vigilant, never be alone and if suitable, wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
RWIs can be acquired by swallowing, inhaling or touching contaminated bodies of water, along with coming into contact with disinfectant chemicals. Notably, some common contagions are Cryptosporidium, Legionella, Giardia, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli.
Ponds, lakes or rivers with an off-putting odor can be indicative of a toxic Algae bloom. Circled above far right, one form of Algae that's easily noticed because of its bluish-green color is Cyanobacteria. Coming into direct contact with Cyanobacteria can cause skin and eye irritation or if ingested, afflict Liver damage, nerve damage, headaches, digestive issues and muscle pain.
Circled above far left, with a special sense of fear, the deadliest of all is Naegleria fowleri, known as Brain-Eating Amoeba. This frightening pathogen travels into the Brain when contaminated freshwater is forced up the nasal cavity, causing Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Alarmingly, Naegleria fowleri can even be found in improperly maintained municipal tap water.
Between 1962 and 2017, there have been four survivors out of one hundred and forty-three documented incidents of PAM in the United States. The most recent survivors were twelve year old Kali Hardig from Arkansas in 2013, who acquired it at a water park, and sixteen year old Sebastian DeLeon from Florida in 2016, respectively. An unidentified eight year old from Texas also contracted PAM in 2013 and was able to fight off Naegleria fowleri, yet suffered irreparable, debilitating Brain damage.
All three were cured by an experimental drug named Miltefosine in combination with conventional treatments. Recently, thirteen drugs, including Tamoxifen and Prozac, have been tested by University of California, San Diego researchers to be more effective medications for PAM in laboratory studies.
Entirely avoidable, mini-epidemics are primarily being caused by a lack of human hygiene. Chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs and water slides are also hosts to a plethora of sickening pathogens, especially those located on the premises of hotels, motels and resorts.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report detailing waterborne outbreaks between 2000 and 2014 originating from public and private swimming establishments. Upwards of twenty-seven thousand infections occurred, with Cryptosporidium causing eighty-seven percent of all incidents because it takes multiple days of chlorine exposure to be killed.
Besides having personal access to one's private, properly maintained pool, the cleanest body of water can be regarded as the ocean. Disinfected naturally by salt, constant rotation and sunlight, the principle worries would be rip currents, touchy-feely Sharks, Jelly Fish, occasional Algal blooms known as Red Tide, disturbed Stingrays and localized pollution.
All told, an absolutely dire fact from CDC for children aged between one through fourteen years old, drowning is the second highest cause of accidental deaths, with vehicle collisions being first. When swimming, sailing, surfing, kayaking or rafting, it's imperative to always remain vigilant, never be alone and if suitable, wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
