This week is Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week, according to the Montgomery County Health Department. While that name may be a doozy, the dangers and health problems it is trying to prevent are nothing absurd.

RWIs, or recreational water illnesses "are illnesses spread by swallowing, breathing in vapors of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, water parks, spas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Injuries at aquatic facilities can occur in or out of the water," according to the health department.

Just last year, area pools saw another surge in instances of cryptosporidium at public pools.

Crypto is introduced into the pool by swimmers who are ill with diarrhea and spread to other swimmers when they swallow the contaminated water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such outbreaks reinforce the continuing need to educate people about recreational water illness prevention to ensure a healthy swimming experience.

The symptoms of Crypto include diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and dehydration. Although symptoms typically start about 2 to10 days after exposure, some people may show no symptoms, the health department said.

The best way to prevent RWIs is to keep germs out of the pool in the first place. Everyone can help create healthy swimming experiences this summer by following these six healthy swimming steps:
* Don’t swim when you have diarrhea.
* Don’t swallow pool water.
* Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
* Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.
* Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside.
* Wash your children thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming.

For more information about healthy swimming, visit:
Montgomery County Health Department’s Healthy Swimming Web site at http://health.montcopa.org or call 610-278-5117
CDC’s Healthy Swimming Web site at www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming or
www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/state.htm
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site at www.epa.gov/beaches

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The Occidental Chemical Corp. has pressed Lower Pottsgrove planners for more time ... and were granted it. Occidental Chemical, which is looking to lease its former plant on Armand Hammer Boulevard in the township, was told at a recent planning board meeting that it must properly mark the parcels at 351 and 375 Armand Hammer Boulevard with lot lines, according to the Sanatoga Post.

Problem is, PennDOT is looking to rebuild and modify the highway there within a year. If that occurs after Occidental marks the land, it will have to remark it at added cost.

Occidental appealed to the board to allow it extra time so it may work with PennDOT and figure out how much frontage on those properties it must give up. That way it will only have to mark the properties once, and save some cash.

The planners agreed and allowed Occidental 12 months in which to properly mark the properties' boundaries.

Occidental, along with BCW Associates Ltd., is looking to lease the land, along with the former manufacturing plant it shut down in 2005. Among the ideas floated around for its use is a solar power generation site or a trash to steam power plant.

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The St. Basil Knights of Columbus have rescheduled their canceled flea market and chicken barbecue to June 13.

The flea market will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church parking lot at Seven Stars and Kimberton roads in Kimberton.

For table space, call Tom Murphy at 610-935-6991.

The barbecue is takeout only and will be served from noon until 3 p.m. Tickets cost $9. Call Frank at 215-880-5090 for tickets.

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Several members of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office will be honored this morning in the Grand Ballroom of the Bellevue in Philadelphia by the Citizen's Crime Commission. The awards are part of the Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Luncheon.

Honored will be Abington officers Robert Davis, Shawn Nisbet and Vincent DiAntonio for their actions in assisting at a domestic dispute involving a man with a gun. Officer Davis was shot upon arrival and Nisbet and DiAntonio had to shot the assailant to stop him. They then performed first aid on the assailant and saved his life, according to a press release from the district attorney's office.

Also honored will be the captain of the county's sex crimes unit, Assistant District Attorney Samantha Cauffman, Detective Raymond Kuter and Detective Mary Anders of the Detective Bureau task force on the Internet Crimes Against Children. They will receive a unit citation for a case involving the seizure of thousands of child pornography images and videos. The case led to arrests throughout the United States and around the world for child pornography.

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Memorial Day parades are planned throughout the area.

In Boyertown, the paradewill start at 9 a.m. on Monday at Boyertown Area High School. The parade will proceed on East Philadelphia Avenue and travel west before stopping at Fairview Cemetery for a ceremony.

In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled.

In Oley, American Legion Post 878 is holding a parade and ceremony at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The parade includes the Oley High School Marching Band, Oley Legion Post 878 marching squad, emergency vehicles and crews, and representatives from other civic groups.

The parade will proceed west on Main Street to Friedens Cemetery, where the Memorial Day Ceremony will include featured speaker Berks County Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt.

Barnhardt is the son of a Korean War veteran and remains committed to the support and furtherance of veterans issues throughout Berks County.

The ceremony will also include musical selections by the Oley Valley High School Marching Band, Oley Middle School Leadership Award winners and a rifle salute to all who paid so dearly for our freedom.

Prayers and benediction will be provided by Pastor Thomas Irwin from Zion Spies Church.

All American Legion members are welcome to march in the parade. Anyone unable to march about one mile can ride in the VIP cars provided.

If you want to participate in the parade, muster at the Oley Valley High School parking lot at 5:30 p.m. Call Jay McCann at 610-987-0979 with any questions concerning participating in the parade.

In the event of inclement weather the activities will be held in the Oley High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.