Swimming tips to minimize risk
Avoid swimming-related illness
Anyone who uses nearshore waters for recreational purposes such as swimming, scuba diving, surfing, or kayaking can be exposed to illness associated with water contaminated by sewage or other water-borne pathogens. The most common of these illnesses is gastroenteritis, which can have one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache, or fever. Vulnerable age groups and those with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to becoming ill.
View Current Swimming Advisories to learn if your beach is known to have problems. However, it is important to use caution, even when a beach is open for public swimming.
Avoid swimming near stormwater outfalls to minimize risk of illness.
Protect yourself and your family
First, do not swim at any public beach if you are already sick or if you have a weakened immune system. Also, avoid swimming for 24 hours after a heavy rainfall or anywhere you can see discharge pipes. Finally, a few hygiene tips may help you minimize your exposure to illness:
- If possible, keep your face and head out of the water or wear nose plugs and goggles.
- Don’t swallow beach water.
- Shower after swimming or recreating at a beach.
- Wash your hands before eating, especially if you’ve been playing in the sand.
Whether or not a beach is closed to swimming and water contact, it's a good idea to take precautions when playing in the sand. Bacteria that cause illness can survive longer in sand than in water. This can put children at risk if they put contaminated sand in their mouth.
If you get sick
If you believe that you are sick from swimming in contaminated waters, see your physician immediately, and contact us or your local health department to report which beach may have caused your illness.