Coast Guard moves Alabama training after swimmers fall ill
November 20, 2019 at 6:37 p.m.
| Updated November 20, 2019 at 6:37 p.m.
by
Associated Press
This June 19, 2019 photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) crew members inspecting a self-propelled semi-submersible in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Coast Guard crews seized more than 39,000 pounds of cocaine and 933 pounds of marijuana, worth a combined estimated $569 million, through 14 separate suspected drug smuggling interdictions and disruptions off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America by three Coast Guard cutters between May and July 2019. (Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Masaschi/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- The U.S. Coast Guard is no longer using an Alabama bay for certain types of exercises after rescue swimmers reported falling ill during training.
News outlets report training has been moved from Mobile Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Capt. William Sasser with the Mobile training station told news outlets that rescue swimmers noted symptoms of "illness and irritation" after working in the bay. He said weekly water testing showed levels of the Enterococci bacteria within acceptable ranges, but said the training was moved as a precautionary measure.
Sasser said the health of rescue swimmers has improved since the move, and added that the agency has adopted new cleaning and hygiene measures.
