How to Avoid Bacterial Contamination Through Beach Water
An Important Safety Issue
As summer arrives, many households enjoy fun vacation trips to the beach in exotic locales. No one can ever guarantee that bacterial contamination won’t occur through exposure to beach water or sand because large quantities of bacteria reside in the ocean. However, you can take practical steps to minimize the chance that you or your loved ones will sustain an infection from this source.
One: Consider The Condition of Your Skin
One of the best defenses against infection remains the skin. Although most of us don’t think about skin’s role in the immune system, healthy skin tissue acts as a physical barrier that helps safeguard and protect blood and vital internal organs from microbial activity. To reduce chances of acquiring a bacterial infection at the beach, don’t risk exposing sores or cuts to sources of contamination and don’t go swimming in the ocean with an impaired immune system. For instance, after an accident involving skin trauma, wait to go swimming until all your wounds have healed. Additionally, if someone in your group has recently sustained an ear infection, don’t allow that person to risk re-infection by going swimming until a complete recovery occurs.
Two: Research Your Beach Carefully
Not every site beside the water provides a smart beach location. For instance, in countries with poor sanitation infrastructures, slaughterhouses, sewage plants, landfills and factories may discharge effluents directly into ocean waters. Even if the nearby shore appears lovely, don’t go swimming in these locations! The possibility of high bacterial or toxin contamination makes choosing another, less potentially contaminated beach, advisable.
Three: Avoid Areas With Extensive Marine Die-Offs
If you notice a lot of dead marine life along the beach, the water in the immediate vicinity may contain a higher-than-normal bacterial load. Don’t spend extensive periods of time in these environments, especially if bacterial contamination poses an immunity concern for you or a loved one. Foul-smelling odors and a lot of garbage strewing the beach also indicate the possibility of heavy bacterial contamination.
Four: Avoid Beaches Beside Busy Harbors
Very busy harbors usually don’t offer the best beach and swimming environments. In some places around the world, older boats and fishing vessels still discharge bilge water and other contaminants directly overboard. Selecting a beach dedicated for recreational swimming and removed from busy ship traffic lanes remains a preferable alternative.
Five: Check For Bacterial Warnings
Bacteria levels at beaches may vary from one day to another. Before swimming at any beach, check for environmental warnings about bacteria and pollution remains prudent.
Vacation Fun
A well-maintained, clean beach provides a great vacation getaway. By taking a few common-sense precautions to avoid contracting illnesses, everyone can enjoy seaside environments!
