Foot fungus, also known as athlete’s foot, sometimes appears in public showers. This fungus grows well in a damp environment and can live on the wet floor spreading from one person’s feet to the next. Athlete’s foot is so-named because it favors sweaty, active feet, making a campground shower as risky as any other public shower. To avoid catching the disease, wear shower shoes or sandals while you're in the bathroom and shower stall.
People can drop razor blades any time, but in a public, cement-floored bathroom, especially one located under a canopy of trees, it can be difficult to see the sharp item. The razor blade could cut you if you step on it or slip and fall on it, and it could carry traces of blood from the person who dropped it. In order to avoid getting cut or catching a disease from a dropped razor blade, scan the shower stall carefully before entering it, even if this means using your flashlight, and wear non-slip shower shoes or sandals.
Some campgrounds use untreated river or lake water in their showers. This water can carry disease-causing microbes and parasites, such as giardia. Most of these are not deadly, but they certainly have the power to ruin your vacation. You won’t get these water-borne diseases as long as you don’t drink the water. However, if you are used to thoroughly washing your face in the shower, do so with your mouth shut to avoid ingesting the water. You can also ask the campground host if the water is safe for drinking. Do remember, however, that chlorine can pose health risks as well, including when absorbed through your skin in the shower. Water that you can’t drink is usually safe--as long as you don’t drink it.
