The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning people to make sure the pools or spa you want to jump into to beat the summer heat has been properly sanitized, according to Healthday.

The governmental agency said in a release serious safety and health violations at pools and water playgrounds force the closure of thousands of facilities each year.  CDC’s associate director for healthy water, Michael Beach, said there was a “long way to go here to lower the n umber of public aquatic venues with serious health and safety violations.  We need to protect the public.”

Beach continued, “Young children who are still learning their toileting skills are more likely to contaminate the water.  They’re more likely to swallow the water.  Both of which can lead to outbreaks of diarrheal illness.”  Probably that factor leads to kiddie pools and wading pools being the most cited, with one of five being closed at least temporarily.

Inspection reports from five states that contain 40 percent of the country’s public aquatic venues found almost 80 percent of the facilities had at least one safety violation, and one of every eight was forces to close immediately to address serious health concerns.

The top reasons for pool violations were improper pH levels at 15 percent of the violations, lack of proper safety equipment in second place with 13 percent, and inadequate disinfectant levels at 12 percent.

The CDC continues to say the most common contamination of public pools and hot tubs are caused by people entering the water while suffering from diarrhea.  The agency recommends keeping a check on pool diapers, and taking the kids out of the water every hour for a trip to the restroom.  They also add you should change soiled diapers in the bathroom or changing area instead of by the poolside.

Associate director Beach adds adults who are recovering from a bout with diarrhea should not be swimming, but also says about one quarter of pool diarrhea outbreaks should have been eliminated by pool disinfectants.

“That’s about very poor pool operation,” said Beach.  “You don’t have chlorine.  Your pH is way off.”

The CDC recommends you should not enter the water if it is not clear enough to see the bottom at the deep end of the pool, and always check to make sure drain covers are secured, and all pool safety equipment is in place.

The CDC’s report was published in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.