Reported by: Heather Turner
ABC15.com
PHOENIX -- City of Phoenix public pools are taking extra steps this year to ensure the safety of swimmers.
City officials said they want to reduce the risk of the bacterial parasite cryptosporidium in the water that left many people ill last year.
Aquatics Supervisor Beck Hulett said all 21 open pools have added a deck attendant to their staff this summer to supervise people entering the pool, making sure they have showered before getting in.
“The bottom line is to have healthy swimming pools for the public here in Phoenix,” said Beck Hulett, City of Phoenix Aquatics Supervisor. “To make sure kids have a safe place to come and we keep the pool open for them.”
The deck attendant is also required to ensure that people are taking restroom breaks, wearing swim diapers when needed, and not changing diapers on the deck.
“When my children come from practice in the morning the first thing they have to do is go shower before they go to practice,” said Kim Ross.
To help enforce these rules, Hulett said each pool is now equipped with new signs around the facility in both English and Spanish.
“We want to make sure that we are enforcing and educating the public about recreational water illnesses and how to keep the pools safe,” Hulett said.
Some pools sell diapers in vending machines and have extras up at the front desk. The city has also installed changing tables inside the restrooms and added extra soap dispensers to encourage healthy practices.
The extra precautions were sparked after last year’s scare when people were reported sick from cryptosporidium, also known as crypto, at some City of Phoenix pools, causing all pools to close their doors for a week.
Crypto is spread through feces, and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diahhrea and signs of the stomach flu for an extended period of time.
Hulett hopes these precautionary measures will help reduce the risk of the parasite showing up at the pools this year.
“The biggest message we want to get out is that if you have been sick, or have any of those symptoms, that you would not come to a pool and swim for 14 days after you’re symptom free,” Hulett said.
