Can my child get sick from swimming in an inflatable or plastic pool?
Yes. Small inflatable pools, hard plastic pools, and other small water-play equipment (for example, inflatable slides where water collects at the bottom) have been associated with the spread of germs. Germs can be spread by swallowing or having contact with water that has been contaminated with infected feces. Adding germ-killing chemicals (such as chlorine bleach) to the water in these small pools is not recommended because it is difficult to determine the proper amount that should go in the pool. Because disinfection is not a safe or feasible option, using these pools increases the risk of spreading germs brought in to the water by swimmers with diarrhea. Therefore, CDC does not recommend the use of small inflatable and hard plastic pools in child care programs (large or small) or schools. Any household deciding to use these types of small pools should become familiar with the steps necessary to reduce the risk of spreading germs in the water. For these steps and additional informati
