Swimming Safety - What is "Crypto"?

I read an article on ABC News entitled: Diving Into Summertime. It includes GREAT tips for Summer swimming:

1) Double check drain covers
2) Surround the pool with a fence and other barriers
3) Keep rescue devices and a phone poolside

My daughter is not yet old enough to swim (at only 8 months old) but it highlighted the reason I don't own, nor ever want to own a swimming pool (by talking about a 2 year old who drowned). It also made me want to share the article because the concerns about Crypto are legitimate ones.

So, first of all, what is Crypto? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Crypto is a germ that causes diarrhea. Crypto, short for Cryptosporidium, is found in infected people's stool and cannot be seen by the naked eye. This germ is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive for long periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine disinfection found in pools."

It is not spread by contact with blood, but by swallowing pool water, putting something in your mouth or accidentally swallowing something that has come in contact with the STOOL of a person or animal that has Crypto. You can also get it from swallowing Crypto from a surface like a lounge chair, picnic table, changing table, etc. (That's the part that worries me since Willow loves to put everything in her mouth).

The prevention? Basically it involves good hygiene, not swallowing pool water (I don't really know how you can tell a kid to not swallow pool water), change your diapers in the bathroom, not poolside and always wash thoroughly before swimming.

This is all not to say that swimming is in any way unsafe or something that you should not enjoy with your family in the hot summer months. Just be cautious. I didn't know about this germ. Now we both know!