Pool Therapy at St. Paul

Welcome to aquatic pool therapy at the St. Paul clinic! Like the therapy pools at other Gillette Children's clinics, this pool is designed with the needs of children with disabilities and complex conditions in mind. The water temperature in the therapy pool is kept at about 93°F, and the room temperature is kept at about 80°F.

If your child's provider has determined that pool therapy will be helpful, it's important that your child attends their scheduled therapy appointments regularly. If you ever need to cancel a scheduled pool therapy session, please call us at 651-291-2848.

Bring the following items with you to every pool therapy appointment:

• A swimsuit
• A towel for your child to dry off with after their time in the pool
• Swim diapers or absorbent swim briefs, if your child has difficulty controlling their bladder or bowel muscles
• Soap—your child will need to take a shower to wash their hands, feet, legs, armpits, and private parts before they get into the pool for therapy.

Please do not bring any toys from home for use in the pool.

1.  Make sure you have all of your supplies with you! Gillette does not provide swimsuits, towels, or swim diapers/absorbent briefs, so please remember to bring them from home. Ask a member of our staff if you need to know where to buy swim briefs/diapers for use in the pool
2.  Arrive at the campus 10-15 minutes early, so there is enough time to get ready for your appointment.
3.  Check in at the front desk. Once you are checked in, staff will let you in to the locker room.
4.  Make sure your child showers with soap and water before putting on your swimsuit (and/or swim diaper, if applicable). 
5.  Wait on the bench by the lockers until your therapist is ready for you.

If you are having pool therapy during a hospital stay, Gillette nurses or Rehabilitation Therapies staff will take you to the pool.

• If your child needs help getting changed, one of their caregivers should go with them into the locker room to help them change.
• A parent or caregiver must attend therapy sessions. An adult needs to be within sight of the pool at all times the pool is in use.
• Due to limited space, there is only room for two observers during pool therapy sessions. 
• It might be appropriate for family members or caregivers to be in the pool with you if it advances the therapy care plan. Your pool therapist will let you know if this is the case. 
• Patients who are incontinent of bowel or bladder must wear appropriate swim diapers, swim briefs, or plastic pants. 
• Cell phones can be used in the pool area at your own risk. Please ask permission before taking photos or videos.   
• Shower with soap and water (cleaning hands, arms, feet, legs, armpits and private parts) before putting on your swimsuit (and/or swim diaper, if applicable).

Your child and anyone coming along to the pool appointment must not have (and not be recently exposed to) a contagious illness. Cancel your appointment if your child (or anyone coming in the pool) is ill, has had diarrhea in the last 2 weeks, or has any open cut or wound.

Please let your therapist know if your child (or anyone who may join them in the pool) is experiencing any of the following:

• diarrhea or bowel incontinence
• communicable diseases (like viral cold sores or genital herpes)
• bacterial infections (such as MRSA or VRE)
• a fungal infection (like athlete's foot)
• menstruation
• open wounds or bleeding
• acute joint flare-ups (such as those with hemophilia or arthritis)
• pinworm, ringworm, or plantar warts
• a urinary tract infection (UTI)
• a rash or skin condition with open or flaking areas (like impetigo, lice, or scabies)
• uncontrolled seizures
• deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)

The presence of any of these conditions may require your pool therapy appointment be rescheduled.