Miami Beach, subtropical beach, recreational water illness

Swimmers at sub-tropical beaches show increased risk of illness, study suggests

Photo by Dan Lundberg

Krystyn Tully, Swim Guide Editor
April 7, 2013

An article from 2010 describes how to avoid waterborne water illnesses at sub-tropical beaches:

A yearlong beach study led by a team of University of Miami researchers suggests that swimmers at sub-tropical beaches face an increased risk of illness. The multi-disciplinary team examined the risk of illness that beachgoers face when exposed to recreational marine water at sub-tropical beaches with no known source of pollution or contamination.

Among the top tips from the scientists for a healthy visit to the beach this summer are:

Avoiding getting beach water in your mouth, or swallowing seawater.

Practicing good beach hygiene by not swimming when ill with flu-like symptoms, diarrhea or open wounds.

Showering before entering the ocean and immediately after leaving the water.

Washing your hands with soap before eating.

Taking small children to the restroom frequently, while on a public beach.

The full story is available on Science Daily.

More Articles Like This

Health and Safety

Can I go outside during coronavirus?

Coronavirus has circulated more than just germs. Feelings of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety have spread as fast as the virus itself. Recently, we’ve seen widespread cancellations of events and closures of public spaces. Many children are not attending schools and you may be working from home or not working at all. The world seems to ...

Health and Safety

5 Mental Health Benefits of Swimming Outside

It’s just you and the water. From the first stroke, you feel the stress of the day washing off your body as the water flows over your skin. You feel weightless but powerful as you glide onwards. Your mind begins to clear. It may have been difficult to get out of bed this morning, and ...

Health and Safety

Learn How to Stay Safe in Tidal Areas

Tides are the rise and fall of ocean waters along the shore. They are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. Tides can be great for water activities, but tides also pose danger, especially if they change when you are not expecting them to. Certain seasonal or weather conditions, such as storm ...

Environmental Awareness

Learn 3 Ways Wildfires are Affecting the Ocean

Australia’s wildfires have already had catastrophic effects on animal and plant life on land, killing an estimated one billion animals. But did you know that wildfires also affect nearby waterbodies? The consequences wildfires have on oceans are less obvious, but they can be devastating. Wildfire smoke and debris may be transported into the ocean by ...

Health and Safety

Can I go outside during coronavirus?

Health and Safety

5 Mental Health Benefits of Swimming Outside

Health and Safety

Learn How to Stay Safe in Tidal Areas

Environmental Awareness

Learn 3 Ways Wildfires are Affecting the Ocean

Health and Safety

Can I go outside during coronavirus?

Health and Safety

5 Mental Health Benefits of Swimming Outside

Health and Safety

Learn How to Stay Safe in Tidal Areas

Environmental Awareness

Learn 3 Ways Wildfires are Affecting the Ocean

Trending Nearby

Beach	Location	Water Quality
Hammonasset Beach State Park Madison, Connecticut	Madison, Connecticut	Historical Status
Attawan Beach East Lyme, Connecticut	East Lyme, Connecticut	Historical Status
Burr Pond State Park Torrington, Connecticut	Torrington, Connecticut	Historical Status
Chatfield Hollow State Park Killingworth, Connecticut	Killingworth, Connecticut	Historical Status

Trending Nearby

Beach	Location	Water Quality
Hammonasset Beach State Park Madison, Connecticut	Madison, Connecticut	Historical Status
Attawan Beach East Lyme, Connecticut	East Lyme, Connecticut	Historical Status
Burr Pond State Park Torrington, Connecticut	Torrington, Connecticut	Historical Status
Chatfield Hollow State Park Killingworth, Connecticut	Killingworth, Connecticut	Historical Status

Report Pollution

Swim Guide
is supported by

* The RBC Foundation

Swim Guide shares the best information we have at the moment you ask for it. Always obey signs at the beach or advisories from official government agencies. Stay alert and check for other swimming hazards such as dangerous currents and tides. Please report your pollution concerns so Affiliates can help keep other beach-goers safe.

Swim Guide, "Swim Drink Fish icons," and associated trademarks are owned by SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA.| See Legal.

	Green means the beach’s most recent test results met relevant water quality standards.

	Red means the beach’s most recent test results failed to meet water quality standards.

	Grey means water quality information for the beach is too old (more than 7 days old) to be considered current, or that info is unavailable, or unreliable.

	Green means the beach passed water quality tests 95% of the time or more.

	Yellow means the beach passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time.

	Red means the beach failed water quality tests 40% of the time or more.

	Green means the beach has historically excellent or pristine water quality, but there is no current data.

	Red means the water at the site has water quality issues or there is an emergency.

	Grey means there is no current water quality information, the beach is under construction, there has been an event that has rendered water quality information unreliable or unavailable.