Here's why you might want to think twice before swimming

Before you dive into your backyard pool or take a dip in that hotel hot tub, be warned.

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportwarns that some dangerous bacteria can survive even in chlorinated and maintained pools.

The data was gathered between 2000 and 2014 and attributed close to 500 disease outbreaks to bacteria found in treated recreational water, including pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds. These outbreaks led to nearly 30,000 illnesses and eight deaths. Researchers determined the most outbreaks occurred in the summer months in hot tubs and hotel pools.

More than half of the outbreaks were caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium, which typically leads to gastrointestinal illness (including diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting).

Imelda Garcia, an Advocate nurse and infection preventionist at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Ill., offers the following tips:

• Don’t swim if you have diarrhea
• Check the inspection scores to ensure the water park or facility is treating and testing water
• Don’t swallow the water
• Avoid swimming with a skin infection or an open wound skin due to the risk of it being infected