Water Safety

Water safety is one of the most commonly expressed concerns before and after getting a feeding tube. We're here to help guide you through the fears and concerns regarding aquatic safety with a feeding tube. 

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Important To Know

Every patient, every story, and every feeding tube is uniquely cared for. When it comes to water safety, your health care provider will be a great resource to answer questions you may have regarding your specific medical condition. Generally speaking, after having a feeding tube placed, such as a MIC-KEY gastrostomy tube, it is best to wait at least 48 hours before submerging into bath or shower water with your feeding tube to ensure the stoma has healed. 

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Pools

It is recommended to wait at least 6 weeks post procedure before submerging into a swimming pool with a feeding tube. Patients often wonder if their feeding tube should be covered when entering into a swimming pool. There is no requirement to cover your feeding tube while swimming, as the stoma site should be fully healed after 6 weeks, however, if you prefer to cover the site during swimming, we recommend using a waterproof dressing such as AquaGuard or Tegaderm.

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Lakes, Ponds, Beaches

While oceans are typically fine for tube-users, these bodies of water are still at risk for pollution. Ideally, you should be able to obtain this information from the local beach health monitoring official. Ask which beaches are monitored, how often they are checked and what they are tested for. When the results are provided, don’t be afraid to ask for help in understanding them. If your beach is not monitored, avoid swimming after heavy rain and near storm drains. Be aware of trash and other pollution in the water. You can also refer to the CDC’s Health Swimming webpage for ocean reports.