f your dad ever told you to go jump in a lake, now is the time to do it.
With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, and Labor Day off in the horizon, the fast-moving months of June, July and August are the prime time to go to a Wisconsin beach, soak in the sun and paddle on the water.
Playing around and swimming in Wisconsin waters is a natural and healthy pleasure. But before you slip into your swimsuit, grab your goggles and pack your pail and shovel (you know, for the sandcastles), it’s a good idea to be aware of the hazards that can have an impact on your health and safety.
Drowning is the most serious Wisconsin water hazard, especially for children
Drowning prevention is a top safety priority wherever there is water. There are about 4,500 accidental drowning deaths each year in the United States, and it’s the leading cause of deaths of children ages 1 through 4, according to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
About 43% of deaths of children and teens occur in open water such as lakes, according to Children’s Wisconsin, the region’s only health-care system dedicated solely to children. About 38% of children’s drowning deaths happen in pools, 9% occur in bathtubs and 10% happen in other kinds of water.
To prevent drownings and increase water safety, Children’s Wisconsin offers these tips:
● Maintain constant supervision.
● Teach kids how to swim, and teach children that swimming in open water is different and more dangerous than swimming in a pool.
● Wear a life jacket when boating or participating other activities in the water.
● Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills.
Find more information about drowning prevention at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance website: ndpa.org.
E. coli bacteria found in Wisconsin lakes can cause illness
It’s possible that lake water can have high levels of E. coli bacteria, and if so, you do not want to be swimming in it.
E. coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of healthy animals, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most types of E. coli are harmless or cause only brief bouts of diarrhea. But some more harmful strains can cause a rogue’s gallery of ailments, including stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Most healthy adults usually recover with a week or so, but “young children and older adults have a greater risk of developing a light-threatening form of kidney failure,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
People get exposed to E. coli from food, especially raw vegetables and undercooked ground beef. But sometimes high levels of E. coli can get into open water. Elevated levels can be caused by a variety of factors, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including ongoing or recent rainfalls which can lead to urban storm water or sewage getting into the surface water supply. Agricultural runoff also can lead to high E. coli levels.
The good news is that the DNR and other agencies monitor hundreds of lakes and beaches for E. coli levels, and areas are closed when the bacteria reach unhealthy levels. The results of those tests are posted on an interactive map at apps.dnr.wi.gov/beachhealth/healthmap.aspx. Signs also are posted on the beaches themselves.
Nine beaches in Brown County are regularly tested, including at Bayshore Park Beach, South Bay Marina and Communiversity Park Beach. More than 50 beaches in Door County — including ones in Egg Harbor, Ellison Bay, Rock Island, Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek — get tested.
For more information about those efforts, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Beaches.
Harlan Buchanan, 6, of Portage nearly loses his goggles while swimming in Lake Winnebago June 21, 2022, at High Cliff State Park in Sherwood, Wisconsin. Harlan was visiting with his family.
Swimmer’s itch from Wisconsin lakes is irritating, but not life-threatening
Swimmer’s itch a rash caused by cause by teeny parasites that live in the water, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and it rarely causes significant health problems. Even so, you do not want it, especially after you learn that the parasite comes from the poop of ducks and geese.
Swimmer’s itch is most common when the water gets warm. Most outbreaks occur from May to early July in the southern half of Wisconsin and late June to early July in northern Wisconsin lakes.
Here’s what happens. People swim in water that’s been used as a toilet by the birds, and the parasites grab onto the swimmer. As the people get out of the water and the air dries, these parasites burrow into the skin. Luckily, they cannot live on humans, so they die. That causes people to break out in allergic reactions.
It can lead to tingling, burning and itching, and looks like small pimples or bug bites. Sometimes, small blisters can form, according to the Department of Health Services. The itchy areas can be treated with skin lotions, anti-itch creams or an over-the-counter antihistamine. If the case is severe, the department recommends seeing a doctor.
To decrease your chances of getting swimmer’s itch, dry off with a towel immediately after getting out of the water. The friction helps prevent the parasites from burrowing in. Change out of your swimsuit and take a shower as soon as possible after swimming.
For more information about swimmer’s itch, see dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/swimmers-itch.htm.