Nearly 80 percent of public swimming pools and hot tubs inspected in five USA states in 2013 had health or safety violations raising big concern for public health.
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– After a first-of-its-kind study, the CDC has released new information about pool safety, and the report isn’t good.
Inspectors collected data in five states – Arizona, California, Florida, New York, and Texas – from a total of 84,187 inspections at 48,632 public aquatic facilities.
Findings showed that almost 80 percent of venues have at least one violation. “However, nearly one third of local health departments do not regulate, inspect, or license public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds”, said Dr. Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program.
Pool facilities were cited most often for improper pH (15 percent), lack of proper safety equipment (13 percent) and inadequate disinfectant levels (12 percent). But the Centers for Disease Control has warned people that before jumping into pool, they must check when it was last inspected. The 2013 study is the most recent data available. Before the initiative, there had been 650 outbreaks in public pools previously in 35 years that had been reported to the CDC.
Pool-goers also can suffer eye and respiratory tract irritation due to volatile disinfection by-products called chloramines, which form when pool chlorine interacts with human waste products like sweat or urine.
Officials say the public can do their part by avoiding getting into the pool they are suffering from diarrhea, and for parents to check children’s diapers and take them for regular bathroom breaks every hour.
Michele C. Hlavsa of the Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental division of the CDC, said there is no intention to tell people to desist from public pools.
Water-based physical activity improves physical and mental health throughout life and might be the only physical activity option for those with medical restrictions.
Before summer heats up, and you want to cool off at the pool, a quick reminder – the water’s swimming with filth.
Besides, swimming is a hugely popular pastime in this country.
This is what pushed the CDC into an alliance with the New York State Department of Health to create the Model Aquatic Health Code.
According to the CDC report, free chlorine concentration levels should be of 1 ppm in pools and 3 ppm in hot tubs.
“We have a long way to go here to lower the number of public aquatic venues with serious health and safety violations”, said Michael Beach, the CDC’s associate director for healthy water.
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The CDC suggests anyone who is unsure about public pools in their area to test the water themselves with over the counter strips. Now, local and state authorities can voluntarily adopt these science- and best practices-based guidelines to make swimming and other activities at public pools and other aquatic venues healthier and safer.
