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Coronavirus / (COVID-19) Swimming Equipment Questions

Whether you own a pool, or are going to an aquatic center, its best to know all the best ways to protect yourself and loves ones from catching COVID-19. Here are some frequently asked questions on the topic.

How long can COVID-19 live on my clothing and things such as towels?

COVID-19 does not live on clothing as long as hard surface objects but it can still live for up to 2 days based on a recent study.

What is the best way to clean clothes and towels to protect against COVID-19?

Wash your clothing with some type of color safe bleach on the highest setting to help kill the virus. Plus make sure you dry your clothes completely in the dryer on the highest setting as well.

How long can COVID-19 survive on life-jackets, pool floats, plastic drinking cups, diving boards, plastic chairs, and beach balls?

On plastic related items COVID-19 can live up to 3 days.

How long can COVID-19 survive on metal chairs, metal hand rails, and metal stairs?

COVID-19 can survive up to 5 days on metal surfaces

How long can COVID-19 survive on glass bottles, glass rails, and glass straws?

COVID-19 can survive up to 5 days on glass surfaces

How long can COVID-19 survive on wooden chairs, wooden benches, and wooden cups?

COVID-19 can survive up to 4 days on wooden surfaces

What is the best way to clean plastic, metal, glass, and wooden surfaces from COVID-19?

Use soap and water first of all on these surfaces to clean them, then use a household spray or wipe to disinfect them completely. It is best to wear gloves while cleaning items, but if none are available wash your hands right away afterwards for at least 20 seconds. Also wearing a mask and eye protection while cleaning is recommended.

Sources – Hackensack Meridian Health– WEBMD

Coronavirus / (COVID-19) Home Pool Questions

If you own a home pool or hot tub you might be curious about COVID-19 and how it may affect you and your guests. Here are some commonly asked questions relating home pool ownership and the coronovirus that may be useful for you.

Should I wear a mask while I am using my pool or hot tub?

The CDC instructs that you should not wear a mask while inside any bodies of water as it can restrict your breathing and cause potential deadly situations. As well a wet mask greatly reduces its effectiveness at stopping the spread of COVID-19

Can I catch COVID-19 from other guests inside the pool?

While there has not been any evidence showing that the virus can spread in properly chemically treated bodies of water, you can catch it from being close to others as the main way to spread it is from water droplets via the mouth. It is best to socially distance yourself from others. If you have to be around guests in a pool then practicing the 6 foot rule of spacing is best.

Should I wear a mask while around the pool?

You should wear your mask when your face is dry and you are around the pool. Remember a wet mask is not very useful in stopping the spread.

What precautionary steps should I take with my pool to help against COVID-19?

Some key ones would be making sure you constantly clean all hand rails, slides, chairs, or any other items people tend to touch with their hands and or bodies. Also cleaning towels after every usage is a good method as well.

Sources – CDC Website

Coronavirus / (COVID-19) Swimming With Face Masks

Many people are curious about the practicality of swimming in bodies of water and protecting yourself with a Face Mask while doing so. So here is some information on the topic.

Should I swim while wearing a face mask?

This is a resounding NO. While catching COVID-19 should be avoided, swimming with a face mask on can cause breathing problems and ultimately lead to drowning.

Should I wear a face mask while in a Sauna, Hot Tub, Or Swimming Pool

This would as well be NO. COVID-19 should be avoided, and your best course of action is to remove yourself from the situation completely, but wearing a face mask in any of those situations can lead to likely situations where your breathing can be hampered.

Should I wear a face mask while on the beach and take it off before swimming?

This would be a yes. The best way to protect yourself from catching COVID-19 is to not be in any situations that you can potentially catch the virus. owever, if you must be on the beach or in other public places, then wearing a face mask and practicing social distancing is the best course of action. For breathing safety, remove the mask before going into the water.

In conclusion a wet face mask can cause breathing problems and should be avoided at all costs, but wearing a dry one before you go into the water, and after you get out of the water (when your face is dry) is the best course of action.

Sources – Mayo Clinic Website

Coronavirus / (COVID-19) Aquatic Construction Questions

Here are some key bits of information for help when building an aquatic structure and dealing with COVID-19. Whether it be for a public area, or a private residency. These tips will help protect yourself and those building your swimming pool from COVID-19.

• Make sure you are using a reputable construction company that is following all CDC guidelines such as reporting supervisors to if they have any symptoms.
• Make sure they are distancing themselves at least 6 feet apart when possible.
• Make sure they are wearing some sort of face mask while working. While uncomfortable it is completely reasonable to wear protection face coverings while working.
• Make sure all constantly touched areas are constantly cleaned. Such as toilets, tools, and other equipment / items.
• Make sure proper hand hygiene is being used constantly. All hands are washed before and after work shifts and breaks. If they do any activities such as touching food, sneezing, using a restroom, and other high COVID-19 spreading activities, ensure they wash their hands and/or use sanitizer.

Sources – CDC Website

Coronavirus / (COVID-19) and Large Bodies of Water

Previously we covered all the information about, swimming in a local pool and using an aquatic center, and proper precautions and information relating to Covid-19. Now we are going to talk some about swimming in a large body of water such as lakes, rivers, and beaches.

Keep in mind, while is the latest understanding of the virus and how it may affect you, it is always recommended to check out the CDC’s website and see if any unknown information about the virus has been found in relation to any activities you plan on doing.

Can Covid-19 Spread In a Lake or on the Beach?

According toe Andrew Janowksi, the infectious diseases physician at Washington University, you should not be infected by the virus as long as you are following proper social distancing recommendations.

What are the social distancing recommendations?

This would be to keep at least 6 feet from other people in the water. A person infected with the virus will have their secretions diluted in water to the point that it would be extremely unlikely to infect someone else if they are at least 6 feet away.

What about boating with friends?

Unless you live with these people, social distancing should be applied. The goal is to slow down the spread of Covid-19 so it will eventually die off completely, or a cure for the virus will be found. Spending time with others will help spread the disease. So you should avoid boating and other aquatic activities with people you do not live with.

Should I wear a mask in the water?

If you are in a shallow body of water a mask would be preferred, such as walking on the edge of the beach, or through a shallow stream. If you are in water higher, than that a mask is not recommended, as it can become a safety hazard if you need a swim. Even a knee deep current in the ocean can pull you suddenly out to sea and a mask could be fatal.

Should I use public bathrooms?

Even though the latest information on Covid-19 states the virus does not live as long as previously thought on surfaces. It is still not recommended to use any public bathrooms if you can. If you must use one, make sure to wear a face mask, have access to soap with hot water, and use towels instead of a hand dryer. Also as always a six foot social distancing policy is the best policy.

Other useful aquatic tips:

• Bring your own towels and chairs, using public ones can increase your chances of infection.
• Do not let children share toys with other children
• Do not share drinks or food
• Wash your hands often when touching anything others may have touched.
• Bring hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes to clean your hands or surfaces that other people may have touched
• Keep a 6 foot distance from others

While taking these extra steps to protect yourself from Covid-19 may seem like a chore, in the long run it will make the lives of yourself and those around much safer.

Original Article – CDC Website

Coronavirus / (COVID-19) waterpark questions and answers

Ever since the Coronavirus has came about multiple people have been curious about their health and safety when it comes to swimming pools, water parks, and all other aquatic related attractions and events.

We at Rowley and Reynolds have done our research and have created an easy to reference bit of information from major health organizations to help you in deciding what steps to take and places to visit based on the virus.

• Check out the inspection score of all locations you plan on visiting online and on-site. While a location might claim to have a great inspection score you should check out their score not only online, but on site to make sure they still have a high graded inspection score by the state.
• Use mini test strips to check the chlorine or bromine levels of the location. The CDC has stated the recommend chlorine and bromine levels should kill all traces of the Coronavirus, but if a location has inadequate numbers you can still be infected. So purchasing test strips from a local hardware, pool supply, or general store should help in tracking if i a store has proper numbers.
• Shower before and after entering water. A quick shower before will help make sure you do not bring anything into the aquatic environment and one after makes sure nothing follows you.
• Watch out for bio contamination

Sources – CDC Website