Recreational Water Illness and Injury (RWII) Prevention Week
The week before Memorial Day has been designated National Recreational Water Illness and Injury (RWII) Prevention Week. RWII Prevention Week 2011 will take place May 23-29, 2011, marking the seventh anniversary of this observance.
Each year, RWII Prevention Week focuses on simple steps swimmers and pool operators can take to ensure a healthy and safe swimming experience for everyone.
The theme of RWII Prevention Week 2011 is swimmer's ear (otitis externa). Swimmer's ear is a common problem for swimmers of all ages and can cause severe pain and discomfort. During RWII Prevention Week 2011, CDC's Healthy Swimming Program and its partners will provide the public with new information and recommendations on how to prevent swimmer's ear.
What are RWIs?
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. RWIs can also be caused by chemicals in the water or chemicals that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems. Diarrhea is the most common RWI, and it is often caused by germs like Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, norovirus, Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7. Other common RWIs include skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for RWIs. More information about RWIs can be found on the Basics of RWIs page.
Information for the Public
- Videos on preventing RWIs
- Fact sheets on the most common RWIs and how to prevent them
- Other RWI Prevention Resources
Information for Public Health Professionals
- RWI Prevention and Response Tools for Public Health Professionals [formerly RWI Health Promotion Toolkit]
- Brochures
- Posters
- Fact Sheets on the most common RWIs and how to prevent them