Category Archives: Health

by | July 28, 2010 · 5:18 am

Hotel Industry Health And Safety: Bedbug Infestations Have Risen Over 80% Since 2000 And Hotels And Motels Have Been “Hit Hard”

“A trained and knowledgeable housekeeping staff is one of the best lines of defense, along with having regular pest control inspections,”

Hotels and motels have been hit hard — CNN said 67 percent of nearly 1,000 pest control companies surveyed have treated bedbug infestations in hotels or motels, and overall, calls to deal with bedbugs have increased 81 percent since the year 2000.

Even four and five-star resorts have had problems with infestations, and researchers say it’s not an issue of cleanliness.

“It’s not a hygiene issue, and that’s a very important thing for all consumers to understand,” said Missy Henriksen, a spokeswoman for the National Pest Management Association.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association said that bedbugs are brought into hotels by guests, so the best way to avoid picking up the creatures on your clothes or luggage is to thoroughly check the mattress and sofa before settling into a new hotel room.

“A trained and knowledgeable housekeeping staff is one of the best lines of defense, along with having regular pest control inspections,” the association added.

For more:  http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/health/bedbug-infestations-on-the-rise-in-u.s.

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by | July 24, 2010 · 10:19 am

Hotel Industry Health Insurance: Nevada Hotel Operator To Subsidize Medical Insurance For Part-Time Employees In Effort To Reduce Turnover

“We recognize the importance of medical insurance for our team members and their families,” Gordon R. Kanofsky, Ameristar’s chief executive officer, said in a written statement. “This is another way we can show team members we appreciate their commitment to delivering outstanding service to our guests.”

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. said Thursday it will begin subsidizing medical coverage for part-time employees after researching methods for reducing part-time employee turnover.

The company, which owns and operates Cactus Petes Resort Casino and the Horseshu Hotel & Casino in Jackpot, Nev., will pay one-half of the premiums for part-time employees working less than 30 hours per week and their dependents.

“We recognize the importance of medical insurance for our team members and their families,” Gordon R. Kanofsky, Ameristar’s chief executive officer, said in a written statement. “This is another way we can show team members we appreciate their commitment to delivering outstanding service to our guests.”

Ameristar hosted focus groups with part-time employees to gauge how effective the program will be, officials said. Employee feedback led to Ameristar’s decision to make the care plan available to all part-time team members.

For more:  http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=209821

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by | July 22, 2010 · 1:46 pm

Hotel Swimming Pool Risk Management: French “Underwater Camera” System Gives Lifeguards “Eyes” To Spot Swimmers In Trouble

The Poseidon system gives the lifeguard underwater “eyes.” It’s made up of overhead and/or underwater cameras, a central computer, an LED display panel and a waterproof touch-screen. The cameras’ analog video feeds are converted to a digital signal by a device called a frame grabber – made by Montreal-based Matrox Imaging – so they can be analyzed by Poseidon’s software.

Developed in France and first sold in 2000 by MG International-Poséidon, Poseidon is an anti-drowning detection system that analyzes video streams in real time and alerts lifeguards to people in trouble in the pool.

The Canadian Red Cross says recreational swimming is the second-leading activity that leads to drowning in Canada. Most drowning victims are young males and those who swim alone.

Drowning can be silent and quick. A swimmer in trouble can enter what lifeguards call a “drowning spiral” within seconds. Once caught in that spiral, the victim becomes immobile, cannot call out and loses consciousness in as little as 12 seconds.

When lifeguards are able to intervene and begin resuscitation within 30 seconds, the victim stands a good chance of recovery. As the amount of time involved in a rescue goes up, the chances of a successful resuscitation fall.

The software algorithms analyze a floating object’s volume and texture to determine if it is a person or just an object in the pool. Once an individual is identified, Poseidon searches for unusual behaviour by comparing the swimmer’s position over consecutive images. When the software detects a motionless presence at the bottom of the pool for 10 seconds, an alarm and siren are activated.

The monitors immediately show the location of the victim, allowing the lifeguards to bring him or her out of the water quickly and start resuscitation.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/22/f-pool-safety-technology-drowning.html#ixzz0uRwh83qP

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by | July 20, 2010 · 9:31 am

Hotel Industry Pool And Spa Risks: Centers For Disease Control Estimates $500 Million In Health Care Costs To Treat “Waterborne Illnesses”

Waterborne illnesses are far from eradicated, and they’re more than just a case of diarrhea. Americans shell out an estimated $500 million in health care costs to treat the conditions each year, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Legionnaires’ disease: $101 million to $321 million. Characterized by fever, nausea and diarrhea, and achy flulike symptoms, Legionnaires’ disease afflicts around 25,000 Americans each year.

Diagnosis and treatment can quickly add up. Blood tests, chest X-rays and liver-function tests might be required, and antibiotics are the usual solution. But Legionnaire’s can quickly turn fatal: Among patients who develop it in a hospital, death rates are around 50 percent.

Prevention? Treating water systems is the reliable standby, but the disease can also fester in large air conditioning systems.

Cryptosporidiosis: $37 million to $145 million. Also known as “crypto,” this parasite is found in recreational waterways and drinking water across the country, and is spread through the feces of infected people and animals.

Diarrhea is the characteristic symptom, and though crypto usually clears up on its own, those with compromised immune systems risk hospitalization.

Prevention? This one’s up to you. Don’t swallow pool water, wash your hands thoroughly — and if you’ve recently had crypto, do us all a favor and stay out of the hot tub for at least two weeks.

Giardiasis: $16 million to $63 million. You might know it as “beaver fever,” and you’ve probably been afflicted. The CDC estimates that 2 million Americans suffer giardiasis each year.

The illness, characterized by two weeks of cramps and diarrhea, is usually caused by raw sewage that’s leaked into drinking water. It can be transmitted person to person, leading to communitywide outbreaks.

 Around 80 percent of cases are treated with a course of antibiotics, but resistance to common medications is making beaver fever tougher to tackle.

Prevention? If you’re enjoying the great outdoors, don’t rely on untreated surface water.

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by | July 19, 2010 · 7:54 pm

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Outbreak Of Norovirus At Hotels And Restaurants Can Be Minimized With Antimicrobial Technology

“Ultimately, the impact an outbreak has on a hotel’s reputation could be devastating. Norovirus, for example, can be particularly dangerous for the elderly or very young, especially if customers have underlying health problems. Then there’s Campylobacter – the most common form of food poisoning – which is estimated to cost the UK economy £500m a year.”

  A leading microbiologist is calling on the hospitality and leisure industry to take more drastic action to minimise the risk of customers and staff being infected with potentially harmful microorganisms following a food poisoning outbreak at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

 Dr Richard Hastings, a microbiologist for BioCote, says that by adopting antimicrobial silver ion technology into areas where hygiene is critical, like a hotel’s kitchen and restaurant, or public areas where there is high footfall, it can help lower levels of contaminating bacteria by up to 99.99%. This dramatically reduces the possibility of cross contamination and the risk of people getting infected.

For more:  http://www.hoteldesigns.co.uk/industrynews/news_7391.html

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by | July 15, 2010 · 10:34 am

Hotel Industry Swimming Pool Safety: Hotel Guest Safety Can Be Improved With “Coast Guard” Approved Flotation Devices And Closer Supervision (Video)

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07.07.10 (LAS CRUCES) — Many area lifeguards are on alert as more and more children spend their summer by the pool. KRWG’s Carlos Correa reports.

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by | July 7, 2010 · 6:19 am

Hotel Pool Safety Risks: Glass Enclosures Around Hotel Pools Still Deemed Hazardous By FEMA

“…in 2008, FEMA decided that the practice is hazardous, apparently because glass walls could become projectiles in a hurricane. If FEMA doesn’t allow hotels to have indoor pools, Patricia Grand’s president says it would be devastating to the hotel’s winter business. “

All the people who come during the weekends in the wintertime would not come back anymore if they don’t have anywhere to go and have a swimming pool available to them,” said Frans Mustert, Oceana Resorts.

Hotel operators and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce have managed to hold FEMA off for two years while trying to get the agency to change its mind.

Dean said they’ve tried to point out that hotels in other beach cities have similar pool enclosures and they haven’t been targeted by FEMA. That argument didn’t change the agency’s mind. “Everyone we’ve talked to, in Washington and here at home agrees, this makes no sense, we need to get this law changed,” Dean said.

Congress is working on a rewrite of the Flood Insurance Program, to include a change in the pool enclosure law.

For more:   http://www.carolinalive.com/neighborhood/story.aspx?id=479236

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by | July 2, 2010 · 8:47 am

Hotel Industry Fitness Center Risk Management: Hotel Operators Must Keep Detailed Equipment Maintenance Records And Use Caution With Trainers To Limit Injury Liability

What many facility operators fail to realize is that when it comes to defending legal claims, keeping detailed maintenance records for all equipment is just as important as the maintenance itself. “Somebody will get hurt and they’ll say either that the piece of equipment was defective or broken or not maintained well,” says Bradley. “Even if you did do regular maintenance, the question will be, ‘Where are your records showing that?’ If you reply, ‘Well, our records aren’t very good,’ then your case falls apart.”

“…most trainer-related injuries occur during the trainer’s first or second meeting with a new client, when trainers sometimes try to push out-of-shape exercisers beyond their abilities. “There’s a mentality among some people that ‘the more someone pushes me, the better that is,'” Fried says. “You end up with a trainer trying to make a good impression on the client, and they give them a full boot-camp-style treatment, and the client may just not be ready for that.”

Proper risk management in the fitness center begins, but does not end, with an industry-specific insurance plan. “Make sure you’re dealing with a broker who understands the risks that might be facing a health and fitness center,” Bradley says. “I’ve come across numerous cases where people thought they had the right kind of insurance plan, and, lo and behold, there was some kind of strange or vague exclusion in the policy that precluded coverage.”

Unfortunately, even the perfect insurance package can only go so far in protecting fitness facilities if a range of other risk management practices aren’t also in place. “There are enough competent brokers out there who understand the risks specific to the industry and who can sell you the right policy, so most clubs end up fairly well protected,” Bradley says. “But if you don’t do all the little things — like regular equipment maintenance logs — and you get hit and start to lose a couple lawsuits, you may still find a broker to write you a policy, but your premiums are going to be frightening.”

Facility owners may also put too much stock in their waivers, which have been deemed insufficient by some courts in protecting organizations from liability. Bradley notes that waivers remain a state-by-state issue, but says he has noticed a trend in the past three or four years in cases involving health and fitness facilities in which many courts “are finding ways to chip away at, find their way around and invalidate waivers.”

For more:  http://www.athleticbusiness.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=3579&zoneid=28

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by | June 27, 2010 · 7:39 am

Hotel Pool Health Risks: Use Of Chlorine Kills Many Pathogens But Produces Chloramines That Can Cause Respiratory And Ocular Illnesses

“…although chlorine kills many potential pathogens, it can also react with human wastes such as perspiration, urine, skin particles, and lotion in pool water to form chloramines and trihalomethanes. Chloramines may remain in the pool water or volatilize into the air, where they create the pungent smell and acutely irritating properties of air above swimming pools..”

“…an outbreak associated with a swimming pool and attributed to chloramine exposure led to cough or ocular symptoms in > 70% of pool patrons interviewed.  Chloramine levels in pool water depend on chlorine and nitrogen concentrations, pool pH, temperature, and water circulation patterns.

However, chloramine levels in the air above swimming pools are also influenced by ventilation and the pool water chemistry. Indoor pools are likely to be less well ventilated than outdoor pools, so the risks associated with chloramine exposure are likely to differ between indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

For more:   http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.9555

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by | June 22, 2010 · 6:00 am

Hotel Pool And Spa Water Illness Risks: New Mexico Hotel Pool Is Shut Down After Two People Contract Legionnaire’s Disease (Video)

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The Best Western Inn in Socorro shut down its pool and spa after the state Health Department and the Environment Department said two people who stayed in the hotel contracted Legionnaire’s disease.

The state Health Department lab confirmed last month that water collected from the hotel contained Legionella , the bacteria that causes the Legionnaire’s Disease, spokeswoman Deborah Busemeyer told The Independent.

“We did have a couple of people from South Carolina diagnosed with Legionnaire’s Disease and the likely exposure was the hotel,” Busemeyer said.

Asked to confirm that a third guest, from California, had also fallen ill, Busemeyer said: “I believe so, but I don’t have details on that.”

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