IDPH Offers Safe Swimming Tips to Prevent Drownings and Other Water Risks as 2025 Summer Season Approaches

Annual Observance of Healthy and Safe Swimming Week runs May 19-25; CDC Stressing Safe Practices for Splash Pads

SPRINGFIELD – Ahead of Memorial Day weekend and the traditional start of the outdoor swimming season, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is highlighting the CDC’s annual observance of Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, which this year features the theme Splash into Fun, Not Germs and offers tips on how to safely enjoy splash pads, also known as interactive fountains.

IDPH is urging Illinoisans to take precautions to avoid risks such as drowning, spreading disease and pool chemical injuries. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to ensure children learn basic swimming and water safety skills at an early age. And adults who are inexperienced swimmers should always be cautious whether swimming in pools or open water.

The agency is reminding Illinoisans that unintentional drownings are the number one cause of accidental deaths nationally for children aged 1-4 years and the number two cause of accidental deaths for children 0-17, according to a recent national study. IDPH provisional data for 2024 indicates there were 101 accidental drowning deaths in Illinois during the year, including 14 deaths of children 0-17.

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and swimming in Illinois’s pools, lakes and rivers is a wonderful way to cool off and enjoy summer fun,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.  “However, unsafe swimming can be dangerous and lead to preventable tragedies for people of all ages. I encourage all Illinois residents – and especially those responsible for young children - to follow safe swimming practices to prevent drowning and other serious injuries.  For parents and caregivers of young children, please reach out to your local park district or other swimming provider, if able, to ensure they learn basic swimming and water safety skills.”

Following are some safe swimming tips:

• Make sure children have swimming lessons and are closely supervised at all times.
• Swimming pools should be fully enclosed by fencing and have a self-closing and self-latching gates.
• Life jackets reduce the risk of drowning while boating for people of all ages.

Poor hygiene also poses a health risk. IDPH notes diarrhea is the most common cause of recreational water illness (RWI). Therefore, anyone with symptoms should avoid swimming. Just one diarrheal or vomiting accident in the water can release millions of germs.  If other swimmers swallow a mouthful of the water, it can cause diarrhea lasting up to three weeks.

Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium) is a gastro-intestinal illness that causes diarrhea and is the leading cause of outbreaks linked to pools and water parks.  Crypto can survive in a chlorinated pool for more than one week.  Other germs that can cause illness include Giardia, norovirus, Shigella, Legionnaire’s Disease, and E. coli.  RWIs can also be caused by chemicals added to treat water.  Other RWIs include skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections.

Here are tips swimmers and splash pad users should keep in mind for avoiding waterborne illnesses:

• Don’t swim or let your kids swim if they have or have had diarrhea in the past two weeks.  If there is an accident, let the pool operator know.
• Try not to get water in your mouth.
• Check out the latest pool inspection report and do your own mini inspection.
• Take kids on bathroom breaks every 60 minutes.
• Check diapers every 30–60 minutes and change them in a bathroom or diaper-changing area–not waterside–to keep germs away from the water.
• Shower before you get in the water.  Rinsing off in the shower for just one minute helps get rid of most stuff that might be on swimmer’s body.

Another cause for concern is pool chemicals which can be toxic if used unsafely. If you own or operate a swimming pool, you should know how to safely use pool chemicals and you should protect children and pets by storing chemicals safely and out of reach of children.

Swimming in lakes, ponds and other natural bodies of water comes with a unique set of risks such as amoeba and algae.  To reduce the chance of illness, limit the amount of water up your nose by holding your nose or using nose clips when diving or water skiing.  Avoid putting your head underwater and don’t stir up mud and scum while swimming in warm freshwater areas.  If you see that the beach is closed, stay out of the water. Don’t swim, water ski or boat in areas where the water is discolored or where you see foam, scum or mats of algae on the water’s surface. 

For boating, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Police remind boaters to wear life jackets and only operate a boat while sober. Jet Skis and other personal watercraft also pose a risk to swimmers and should never be operated under the influence.

To protect the public, IDPH licenses and regulates swimming facilities in Illinois. The state's 3,200 swimming facilities must meet water quality and safety standards, including engineering design standards for pools, spas, beaches, water supplies, bather preparation areas, and water treatment systems. To check the status of a facility licensed by IDPH, use the IDPH Swimming Facility Search. 

You can also learn about the health status of Illinois beaches, including beach closures, advisories, and test results, by checking the online Illinois Beach Guard System.