It's officially summer, and one of the most popular ways to cool off includes splash pads. While those pads can be lots of fun, Onondaga County Health Department officials say they carry some risk.

Officials say parents and kids don’t need to stay away from splash pads this summer, but there’s some basic safety information to keep in mind to mitigate health risks for your own family, and the community.

“That water is from the municipal supply. It's clean, it's potable, but as it enters the spray ground it has the opportunity to collect pollutants which could effect public health,” said Jeffrey Till, director of the Bureau of Public Health Engineering.

If little ones aren't potty trained, Till says it's best practice to fit them in a swim diaper to prevent the spread of bacteria. If your child is feeling sick, they should also stay home.

The most important thing to remember is you should not allow kids to drink water from the splash pad, Till says. Despite it being clean before it leaves the ground, once it splashes into the air, a number of germs can be spread through the water via the splash pad’s surface. Till says invisible contaminants from the environment make the water dangerous to ingest.

“You’re out in the environment, it's not a clean space. There are animals that can go onto the splash pad when it's not in use. There’s birds that fly over, bird droppings, and all of this stuff can cause contamination in the water,” said Till.

None of the splash pads in Onondaga County are directly overseen by the health department.

The CDC also has some tips on splash pad safety, like taking a shower before you get there, checking diapers frequently and not standing over the jets which can spread any excrement through the park.

One place that’s tempting to jump in the water is fountains, but they pose a health risk, according to Till, making public bathing, even just sticking your feet in, at a place like Clinton Square a bad idea.