Splash pads can be a fun place for kids to cool off and play during the warmer months. With its fountains, sprayers, and jets, this type of water playground helps ease the fear of parents who worry about the drowning hazards of pools. But it too, is not without risk.
Enter waterborne outbreaks like Cryptosporidium and norovirus.
Sorry to burst your bubble. Pardon the water pun. But I’m here to educate as well as entertain.
This topic comes to you via a study recently published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A regularly published report that brings relevant findings from the scientific community to the public.
Lets talk about the study, Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Splash Pads – United States, 1997-2022.
According to the paper, “Splash pads, which first appeared in the 1990s, are designed so that water typically does not collect in areas accessible to users.” While this feature minimizes certain risks, splash pads “have been associated with waterborne outbreaks of either infectious or chemical [source].”
Since they do lack standing water, many states have exempted splash pads from public health regulations. But the risk is not completely gone. Ingesting water contaminated with feces or other harmful agents is still possible.
In fact, many Crypotsporidium and norovirus outbreaks have been linked to these facilities.
There were 60 waterborne disease outbreaks included in the study. Among those, 39 occurred in places where there was only a splash pad. Others included places that included other venues like pools or hot tubs.
Of those associated with splash pads across 23 states and Puerto Rico between 1997 and 2022, the three largest outbreaks were caused by Cryptosporidium. These outbreaks included 2,307 cases, 2,050 cases, and 2,000 cases respectively.
Of the 10,611 cases indicated in this study, 91% (9,622 cases) were caused by Cryptosporidium. This pathogen also accounted for 81% (123) of the related hospitalizations.
Cryptosporidium is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite that results in watery diarrhea. It can thrive in water, food, or surfaces that have been contaminated by infected poop.
You become infected with Cryptosporidium by swallowing the pathogen in infected food or water, or touching your mouth with your hand after touching something contaminated with the parasite.
Most people begin feeling sick between two and ten days after infection. The average length of illness is seven days.
The most common symptoms is prolonged, frequent, and watery diarrhea. However, other symptoms may include stomach cramps or pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, weight loss, and/or dehydration. But some people show no symptoms at all.
Cryptosporidium infections often last one to two weeks. However, symptoms may come and go for up to 30 days as they body gets rid of the infection.
Two of the outbreaks identified in the study were caused by norovirus. These illnesses accounted for 72 emergency department visits.
Norovirus is a food and waterborne illness caused by a virus known as norovirus. It is highly contagious. It only takes as few as 10 viral particles to cause illness.
You become infected with norovirus by swallowing the pathogen in infected food or water, or touching your mouth with your hand after touching something contaminated with the virus.
Most people begin feeling sick between 12 and 48 hours of exposure.
The most common symptoms associated with norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms may include, but are not limited to, fever, headache, and body aches.
People with norovirus infections generally stay sick around one to three days. The infected person can still continue to spread the virus for a few days after their symptoms subside.
The study uncovered outbreaks caused by other pathogens.
Surely there is something that can be done to prevent outbreaks at splash pads.
But what?
While chlorine disinfectants can be effective against many different pathogens, Cryptosporidium is the exception.
This parasite can even live more than a week in chlorinated water!
For this reason, other more targeted efforts are necessary.
One of the more effective ways to combat Cryptosporidium outbreaks at splash pads is to monitor behavior.
Monitor children in diapers and those who frequently sit on water spouts and fountains.
This information must be oriented toward the caregivers of these small children.
“Recommended user behaviors in splash pads and other recreational water venues include not getting in the water if ill with diarrhea until two weeks after it has stopped, not swallowing water, taking younger children on bathroom breaks or checking diapers or swim diapers every hour, and if needed, changing them away from the water.”
If your child has become sick from a splash pad, there are a few things you can do to help yourself and others during this situation.
Even if your illness is mild, reporting your illness to your local health department can help others. The more information the department has, the more likely interventions can take place to prevent further illnesses.
If your child has become seriously ill from a splash pad outbreak, you will want to get legal advice. An experienced Cryptosporidium or norovirus lawyer know how to handle your situation properly and ask all the right questions as well as answer yours.
If you wish to make a legal claim involving a splash pad outbreak, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for your free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation. Don’t wait. Call today!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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