Splash pads are associated with fun and leisurely times, but people seldom think about the hidden health risks of spending time in this fun zone. In a new study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 60 waterborne disease outbreaks associated with splash pads from 23 states and Puerto Rico between 1997 and 2022 were analysed.
The CDC discovered that since the introduction of splash pads 25 years ago, they have been linked to 10,611 infections. Out of those infected, 152 people were hospitalized and 99 people had to visit emergency rooms. There were no deaths reported.
