Is It Safe To Swim?

By Michael Freedman, MD

Thinking about swimming in the Chesapeake Bay? Find out if it is safe to swim and how to keep you and your kids happy and healthy this summer.

Avoid getting sick in the Chesapeake Bay with these seven simple rules

After rainfall of inch or more, all Anne Arundel County beaches are under a no swimming/no direct water contact advisory for at least 48 hours.

Do not swim in the Bay before checking Anne Arundel County's Beach Swimming Guide.

Never swim in cloudy, murky water or near storm drains.

Look for trash and other signs of pollution, such as oil slicks or scum on the water.

Do not swim in the Bay if you have an ear infection, a perforated eardrum, open cuts, scratches or skin lesions, or a compromised immune system.

Do not swim in water areas where there is a fish kill or where there are any dead animals or known algae bloom.

Try not to swallow water while swimming.

If you follow these simple rules, you lower your risk for getting a water-related disease dramatically.

Which Areas of the Chesapeake are Safest?

Unfortunately, there is not a single area that is “always safe.” The possibility of sewage leak, or irresponsible boater pumping out, means that any river can suddenly develop high bacterial counts.

Local health departments test for bacteria from human feces (usually E. coli or Enterococci) once or twice per week.

In Annapolis and surrounding areas, these results can be easily found on Anne Arundel Health Department's website under Beach Swimming Guide.

Note that they do not sample in the 48 hours after rainfall of inch or more. The reason is that bacteria levels would be very high in nearly every location!

Keeping Kids Disease-Free in the Bay

Kids are at higher risk for ear infections, skin infections and diarrheal illnesses.

Children almost always have some kind of scratch or abrasion on their shins or arms. It's easy to overlook those open wounds. Check them before swimming. Then keep those areas covered in a waterproof bandage. And remember kids will always swallow more water than adults. Keep them out for 48 hours after rainfall and check the beach swimming guides weekly.

If you have any questions or have been experiencing one of the above symptoms, see your doctor immediately.