Swimming in the pool?

[PhoenyxAngel]

Recently I've been swimming since I haven't done it in years and it's making me very happy, because I missed it so much.

But I just recently fell back into old habits when it cause to my emetophobia....I keep looking up on twitter and flutracker where the norovirus is, and how bad it is. Well, I found out that a local hospital had about 30 cases of noro among staff members in the past month. And this got me thinking: people are claiming the norovirus is still going around and I'm going out a lot more now that it's summer time. But knowing that norovirus is still running rampant (I understand it never goes away completely, but it hasn't died down to the point it usually does in the summer months like in the past) I'm beginning to worry. I feel like I'd be safer staying home and not hanging out with my friends. But I don't want to do that because I just started coming out of my shell sort to speak. I really feel like crying right now....I thought the worst of it was behind us, or it should have been. Why is it still hanging around I'm so afraid I will get it, or someone I'm close to will get it.

Second part of the thread: is swimming safe? It has chlorine in it, but will that kill any noro?

I really just want this to end. I want to enjoy my summer.

[kristinak]

Chlorine is BLEACH. It does kill noro, especially in the concetration used in pools. I am a triathlete and have spend five days a week in a chlorinated pool since I was in my 20s and have never, ever caught anything, even when swimming and having to get out immediately when there was an "poo" accident in the pool.
It is perfectly safe, trust me

[PhoenyxAngel]

Thank you. My concern is that it is a community pool filled with kids. lol. I'm not good with cleaning or chemicals, so I really didn't know what chlorine kills or doesn't kill. Or that it was actually bleach.

Thank you for letting me know

[MarrickFait]

Don't worry, that chlorine kills HIV. Noros a beetch to it lol

[donna1216]

I was just reading about this today. One of our local kid's fountains decided to shut down permanently because of the risk of a d* bug that isn't killed by chlorine. It made me nervous because I just booked my son's bday party at a water park!

[out_of_order]

Think of how many people swim in community pools. If it wasn't safe, there would be massive outbreaks of illnesses that would make the news and they would be forced to shut down. Enjoy your summer. Drown your emetophobia in that pool!!!

[cinque]

The thing not killed by chlorine is cryptosporidium I think? I think that is, touch wood, quite rare, and also something that the authorities evidently take seriously if they're shutting down fountains for that reason.

I have worried about swimming pools but it's very encouraging to know that you've been swimming so frequently without problems, Kristina! I knew chlorine does kill noro but it still played on my mind a bit, irrationally xxx

[Erica1649]

I got really confused reading the OP's post...said it was summer time and then says she lives in PA...which isn't that far from me lol...its definitely winter here! haha

I'm not the best swimmer, I can keep myself a float.

[ditchy_jon]

Recently I've been swimming since I haven't done it in years and it's making me very happy, because I missed it so much.

But I just recently fell back into old habits when it cause to my emetophobia....I keep looking up on twitter and flutracker where the norovirus is, and how bad it is. Well, I found out that a local hospital had about 30 cases of noro among staff members in the past month. And this got me thinking: people are claiming the norovirus is still going around and I'm going out a lot more now that it's summer time. But knowing that norovirus is still running rampant (I understand it never goes away completely, but it hasn't died down to the point it usually does in the summer months like in the past) I'm beginning to worry. I feel like I'd be safer staying home and not hanging out with my friends. But I don't want to do that because I just started coming out of my shell sort to speak. I really feel like crying right now....I thought the worst of it was behind us, or it should have been. Why is it still hanging around I'm so afraid I will get it, or someone I'm close to will get it.

Second part of the thread: is swimming safe? It has chlorine in it, but will that kill any noro?

I really just want this to end. I want to enjoy my summer.

My advice is go out and enjoy yourself. Firstly you cannot catch norovirus via the air (unless someone vomits on you or vomits very near to you - as in 5 feet away). Also you cannot catch norovirus by sitting next to someone. It is only found in vomit or diarreah. If you ensure that you wash you hands whenever you put your hands in your mouth, such as wanting to suck a mint or eating. Also have a look online and try and find some hand gel sanitizers which have the following chemicals in concentrations of 0.13% or more. Benzalkonium chloride and Benzethonium chloride are the two cehmicals that kill norovirus.

Go out and enjoy yourself this summer.

[loolooj]

I was wondering about the swimming pool aspect myself! I feel a bit silly now for not making the connection between chlorine and bleach

[Cynna]

This was an original post from June that was brought back to life.