Is this normal procedure?

[N&B'smom]

We got back from our Disney trip on 9/29. We had a fantastic time. On our last day we were at Blizzard Beach in the Tike's Peak section with our 4 year old. There's a section of several inches of water and little white snow people that the kids can climb on, some of them shoot water, etc.

Anyway, my mom and I were sitting in little chairs watching her in the water. There was another mom who we noticed as well sitting in the water with her much younger daughter. She was just at the point of toddling around. All of a sudden we see this mom get up and speak with one of the lifeguards that are there. She then comes over to us and suggests we remove our child from the water because one of the children had apparently gone to the bathroom in the water and she saw it.

It took me about a half a second to remove my daughter from the water. We sat and talked with the other mom who was very nice. We were watching to see how things were handled. Well, the lifeguard called someone and then just sort of stood around in ankle deep water. About 10 minutes goes by and then another guy comes up, obviously the person he called. They go together into the water a little looking around and checking things. He then comes over to the mom that reported the problem and says it's okay now, it must be gone. It must have washed away. We were a tad shocked I have to say. I thought they'd do a little more than that! I told the lifeguard that since it was okay to go in I'd like to see him get down into the water. He then commented that he was in the water. I reminded him he was only in up to his ankles (unlike all the small kids) and his response was - I'm in here up to my ankles but I do have open sores on my feet. That was all I needed to hear. Between lifeguards with open sores and feces floating around the water I was just as happy it was our last day at the water parks!

Is that all they'd normally do?? Anyone have any other experiences similar?

Shelby

 

[ArielRae]

If I were you I'd write Disney about that. Eww

 

[Robo]

Sorry to have to say that if you go to public pools, this is just a fact of life.

These stories have been reported in various forms or another since the advent of spoken language.

 

[dreamergirl78]

That's just gross. Yet another validation as to why I can't handle public pools. My friend (a nurse) always teases me because she said the amount of chemicals they put in the pool would kill anything, but man oh man, it still makes my tummy turn.

 

[GSDRescuer]

one of the children had apparently gone to the bathroom in the water and she saw it.

his response was - I'm in here up to my ankles but I do have open sores on my feet. That was all I needed to hear. Between lifeguards with open sores and feces floating around the water

 

[goofyernmost]

You ought to see what's in your drinking water!

Seriously, that is why it is chlorinated. Once the filtering system disposes of the offending object the chlorinated water will kill all of that form of bacteria that was introduced. Once the "object" was gone, the pool was once again as safe as it will ever be. If you think for one minute that kids and adults don't do stuff in pools than something is wrong. As was stated before, it is a fact of life in public pools.

What do you suggest that they do? Close the pool, drain it and start over? That isn't at all what happens and once the maintenance men told you it was safe, it was safe. Disney wouldn't take that kind of chance. BTW, the open sore thing was probably just a tale tail to reassure you that he felt that everything was ok. Not the wisest of choices, I admit, but, he was trying to make a point.

 

[gagco]

Sorry to have to say that if you go to public pools, this is just a fact of life.

These stories have been reported in various forms or another since the advent of spoken language.

In Massachusetts, if an "accident" has been seen (even includes an infant spitting up), the pool is shut down - often for 24 hours. I guess different states have different regulations.

I've seen it happen and so have friends of mine.

 

[Robo]

In Massachusetts, if an "accident" has been seen (even includes an infant spitting up), the pool is shut down - often for 24 hours. I guess different states have different regulations.

I've seen it happen and so have friends of mine.

A likely story.

If that were actually true, there would be no public pools open... EVER!

 

[Brian_WDW74]

What do you suggest that they do? Close the pool, drain it and start over?

Am I the only one picturing that scene in Caddyshack right now?

 

[N&B'smom]

You ought to see what's in your drinking water!

Seriously, that is why it is chlorinated. Once the filtering system disposes of the offending object the chlorinated water will kill all of that form of bacteria that was introduced. Once the "object" was gone, the pool was once again as safe as it will ever be. If you think for one minute that kids and adults don't do stuff in pools than something is wrong. As was stated before, it is a fact of life in public pools.

What do you suggest that they do? Close the pool, drain it and start over? That isn't at all what happens and once the maintenance men told you it was safe, it was safe. Disney wouldn't take that kind of chance. BTW, the open sore thing was probably just a tale tail to reassure you that he felt that everything was ok. Not the wisest of choices, I admit, but, he was trying to make a point.

Yes, I did expect them to have people get out of that area why they checked into everything. They let kids swim around with it floating in the water!!

And no, it was not a tale he was telling us, you could see his feet and there was some nasty stuff going on there. I saw it myself.

We've been at VWL when the main pool has been closed since someone threw up.

Shelby

 

[Evil Princess]

I work at a day camp. This happens ALL THE TIME, often multiple times a week.

They're not going to drain the entire thing. There are chemicals in there for a reason. Obviously if theres something visible they close the pool, but I have many lifeguard friends and this is pretty standard.

 

[MassMom94]

Well, according to the CDC, they should have closed the pool and tested the water:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/fecalacc.htm

Fecal accidents are very different from a kid peeing in the pool. For one thing urine is sterile, and two, it's mostly water. Poop accidents are different - there are all sorts of nasty things (like I have to tell you this) that can be in #2.

A few years ago there was a diarrheal incident at our local pool, they had to "shock" it, and it was closed for three days.

Obviously the situation you witnessed at BB was not that serious, but it's something I would write to Disney about.

 

[MassMom94]

I work at a day camp. This happens ALL THE TIME, often multiple times a week.

They're not going to drain the entire thing. There are chemicals in there for a reason. Obviously if theres something visible they close the pool, but I have many lifeguard friends and this is pretty standard.

You're kidding, right? Kids POOP in your day camp pool multiple times a week?? Yikes! And in the BB case, the lifeguards didn't even close the pool when there WAS something visible! Double yikes!

 

[Evil Princess]

You're kidding, right? Kids POOP in your day camp pool multiple times a week?? Yikes! And in the BB case, the lifeguards didn't even close the pool when there WAS something visible! Double yikes!

No, I'm not kidding, and it's not just my camp. My ex boyfriend worked at a different camp, and my friend was a lifeguard at another. This happens all the time.

The kids range in age between 3 years old and 14, and theres well over 1,000 of them.

 

[Vemnox]

Sorry to have to say that if you go to public pools, this is just a fact of life.

These stories have been reported in various forms or another since the advent of spoken language.

I hate to agree but this is how it is. What do you want them to do? Evac the pool, drain it, and wait a few hours for it to be scrubbed down and re-filled?

That's just how the game is played.

 

[Vemnox]

In Massachusetts, if an "accident" has been seen (even includes an infant spitting up), the pool is shut down - often for 24 hours. I guess different states have different regulations.

I've seen it happen and so have friends of mine.

Yeah watch them shut down the kid section of Blizzard Beach for 24 hours and see what happens. The line at Guest Relations would stretch to Epcot.

 

[mattsdragon]

Am I the only one picturing that scene in Caddyshack right now?

No, you're not. . .

DOODIE!!!!

To the OP, was this what the Maintanence guy looked like?

 

[mattsdragon]

You're kidding, right? Kids POOP in your day camp pool multiple times a week?? Yikes! And in the BB case, the lifeguards didn't even close the pool when there WAS something visible! Double yikes!

Shoot, I used to work as a janitor at TJ Maxx, at least once a week, someone would poop in one of the dressing rooms. We didn't close them down for disinfection, just long enough for me to clean it up.

Worst job ever.

 

[Hannathy]

Did they see it an remove it or not see it? They can't go closing the pool on the word of another guest. It sounds like they didn't even see it. If the stool is solid the danger is not very great, and the chemicals will take care of it, once it is removed. If it is diarrhea then it can be a big deal because it mixes readily with the water. Did you see it? or again was it just the other lady saying something?
Do you ever swim in the ocean? that has raw sewage dumped in it in.

Life is full of risks and you choose which ones you can deal with and the risk from pools is way down on my list of risks I'm not willing to take. Now golfing in a thunderstorm that is high on the no-no list.

 

[ldo]

someone got sick near/in pool at POP. Lifeguards closed pool, chlorinated, tested and then re-tested 30+ minutes later. Pool was closed for 1-2 hours.
Plus open sores--YUCK--clearly a health issue. I would definitely write Disney and let them know--at least so they can beef up training for the life guards!