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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.
Tag Archives: Swimming Pools
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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Hotel Industry Pool Safety: Hotels Must Create Safe Pool Environment For Young Children Who Need Supervision And Visibility
“Probably the most important thing, especially when you’re dealing with young children, is that they are always supervised around a body of water,†said Heather Board, an unintentional injury 
prevention program director at the Virginia Department of Health. “Children can drown in an instant, and contrary to popular belief, it tends to be a very silent drowning. There’s not a lot of splashing.â€
In addition to close supervision, all pools should have a phone readily accessible in case there is a need to call emergency services. Barrier methods such as a fence with a self-closing gate also are important.
Adults supervising children in a pool should be free of distractions, Board said. The health department recommends one adult be designated the “water watcher†to keep a close eye on the children in the pool.
“There’s a difference between supervision and actively supervising,†Board said. A “water watcher†should not have side conversations with other adults, talk on the phone or leave the immediate area, she said. “They’re really paying close attention.â€
For more:Â Â http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/jun/09/water-safety-paramount-good-times-pool/
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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.â€
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Hotel Pool And Spa Health And Safety: Operator Of An Iowa Hotel Failed To Have “Certified Pool Operator” And Guest Claims To Have Contracted Legionella Disease During Stay
“… the Iowa Department of Public Health found Legionella disease in a hospitalized patient who claimed to have contracted the bacterial disease, which can cause pneumonia, during Memorial Day weekend at the Ottumwa Days Inn spa. The Ottumwa Health Department was made aware of the complaint on June 10. “
 Ottumwa inspectors immediately tested the facilities and found that both the pool and spa had not been disinfected.
Gates said that the pool met code when it was last inspected in March by the city. One of the requirements for the pool facilities is that they have a certified pool operator. That person is in charge of testing the chemicals and making sure the facilities meet the requirements of the city and state codes. The Days Inn did not have a certified pool operator, Gates said. However, Gates noted, Legionella disease has not been confirmed to be present in the Ottumwa pools. They are awaiting test results that should be returned later this week.
“These rules are important because people can get sick if they are not complied,” Gates said, adding that she’s never had a complaint like this in her experience in the health department.
For more:Â Â http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/dinn_swimming-pool-and-spa-at-the-days-inn-closed-down-987378.html
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Hotel Pool Water Health Risk Management: Pool Water Clarity Is Best Sign Of Healthy Conditions, Produced By Regular And Recorded Testing Of Chlorine And pH Levels
“If you can’t see the bottom of the pool, …..don’t get in the water”
“Pool operators are required to keep logs of when they test the water”
Lana Charrington, director of Environmental Health for the Ross County Health District, said her department checks any public pools in county, including those in hotels, the YMCA, spas and the city pool. The inspection includes:
- checking the water circulation
- making sure the pool filters in a 24-hour cycle
- chlorine levels
- clarity of the pool
- pH levels which measure alkalinity
The department checks safety equipment and makes sure signage is displayed properly. It also makes sure proper recordkeeping is being done.
For more:Â Â http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20100610/NEWS01/6100316
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Hotel Industry Health Risks: Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Finds Serious Pool Bacteria Code Violations At 15% Of Over 16,000 Hotels, Motels And Resorts
The Centers for Disease Control and Control and Prevention found that, aside from childcare 
facilities, that 16,569 hotels, resorts and motels had the highest rate of closure due to serious code violations, mainly low disinfectant in the water to battle bacteria, about 15% or 1 in 6 hotel inspections.
Shigella and novovirus cause stomach and intestinal infections like gastroenteritis. Another microorganism found in pools is pseudomonas, which causes harmless but unsightly pustules on the skin.
To prevent closures or violations, hotel managers and staff should be using routine maintenance and sanitation, with frequent pool checks during high use when chlorine will get a work-out. Anyone, including a member of the hotel staff can check the pH level of the pool by using free test strips available from the Water Quality & Health Council (water levels should be within 7.2 to 7.8.)
For more:Â Â http://industry.bnet.com/travel/10006301/cut-the-crap-the-dark-side-of-hotel-pools-and-how-to-manage-it/
Hotel Swimming Pool Health Risks: Hotel Pools Are Extremely Unhealthy As Chlorine Is Neutralized By Sweat, Suntan Lotion And Urine
Fecal particles are a common factor, especially in kiddie pools 
and fountains where children frolic. But urine is also a problem: It contains nitrogen that eats up chlorine in pool water, depleting the supply. Sweat and suntan lotion have the same effect.
And about one in five adults admit they have peed in the pool, according to a survey of 1,000 Americans done last year for a chemical industry advisory group, the Water Quality and Health Council.
A new government report shows one in eight public swimming pools were shut down two years ago because of dirty water or other problems, like missing safety equipment.
Kiddie pools were most likely to be the germiest, from fecal matter and improper chlorination.
The report is based on more than 120,000 inspections of public swimming pools in 2008, including those in parks and hotels. It’s the largest study of the topic ever done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which released the report Thursday.
Hotel Pool And Spa Health Risks: Super Bug “Crypto” Causes Most Common Recreational Water Illness (RWI), Survives For Days In Chlorinated Water, And Can Be Prevented Only When Guests Shower Before Swimming
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 Healthy swimming expert Michael Beach warns about the superbug Crypto that causes the most common recreational water illness and suggests anyone with diarrhea should stay out of the water. The video explains that though we use chlorine to kill germs and protect our health, Crypto can survive for days in chlorinated water.
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The second of three videos produced by the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare to raise awareness of Recreational Water Illness and how to prevent them.
Hotel Pool And Spa Health And Safety: Proper Water Chemistry Controls Are Essential To Maintaining Guest Health And Limit Illnesses (Video)
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A short video that describes basic water chemistry and the controls required for safe water.
Proper water chemistry is essential to maintaining safe and consistent swimming pool operation. Chemicals used in swimming pools include: Disinfectants to destroy harmful or otherwise objectionable organisms; Alkalinity and pH Adjusters to maintain a consistent acid-base relationship and acid buffering capacity; Chlorine Stabilizer to prevent unnecessary loss of chlorine; Algicide to kill and prevent algae, and Filter Aids to help remove foreign material. Following is a discussion of various factors which affect water chemistry, how they affect swimming pools and how to use pool chemicals to restore a properly balanced water chemistry.
Hotel Swimming Pool Water Health Risks: Maintaining Pool Equipment And Water Quality, Including Cleaning Pool Decks Daily, Can Help Reduce Health Hazards
Swimming pool water care involves you cleaning your pool deck and walkways at least once a day. This will help in keeping contaminants from entering into your pool or spa water. Additionally, maintaining good water quality and eliminating non-enteric waterborne illnesses, require daily swimming pool cleaning.
(From a Swimming-Pool-Care.com article)Â Â Some waterborne illnesses are caused by non-enteric pathogens. These pathogens can be found in poorly maintained swimming pools and spas. Because of these potential health hazards, your swimming pool equipment and your water quality, should be checked constantly. This is a daily requirement.Non-enteric pathogens that are usually found in poorly maintained swimming pools include:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is an opportunistic pathogen that causes infection of the respiratory system. It can also cause dermatitis and infections of the soft tissues in the body.Pseudomonas pathogens are usually found in a biofilm environment. Biofilm is normally found in the circulation system of your swimming pools and spas. This pathogen can tolerate a variety of physical conditions and it is highly resistant to antibiotics.Â
Symptoms that are associated with pseudomonas aeruginosa!
Symptoms for this particular form of waterborne illnesses that are found in pools, are as follows:
- Itchy skin.Â
- Bumpy rashes that are tender to the touch and appear reddish in color.Â
- Puss filled blisters that usually form around your hair follicles. The reason for this, is due to the fact that infection of pseudomonas usually forms in the hair follicles.
Other non-enteric pathogens that are found in pools and spas!
When the circulation system for your swimming pools and spas are poorly maintained, non-enteric pathogens are developed. These include:
- Mycobacterium spp.Â
- Staphylococius aureus.Â
- Leptospira interrogans.Â
- Trichophyton spp.Â
- Epidmerophyton floccosum. this pathogen usually is the cause for dermic or respiratory infections.Â
- Acanthamoeba spp.Â
- Human papilloma virus.Â
- Legionella pneumophila. This particular type of waterborne illness, is commonly referred to as legionellosis or legionnaires disease. This is a severe case of pneumonia. Sadly this bacteria exist in poorly maintained spas and is transmitted through the mist that is common with this type of environment.Legionella pneumophila cause two different types of diseases. The first is called legionnaires disease, as was mentioned earlier. This my friend is the more severe form of the waterborne illnesses. The next stage of this infection, is called pontiac fever. Fortunately for us, this is the more milder side of the disease.Proper disinfectant levels in your spa, along with frequent maintenance of your filter, are critical steps necessary to control these bacteria.Â
- Molluscipox virus. This is a virus that causes molluscum contogiosum. Molluscum contogiosum is a common skin infection that is not serious. It will clear up on its own, without any form of treatment. Nevertheless the condition could take up to several months before it clears but there are no long term effects it.Â
- Verrucas. This infection, is commonly known as plantar warts. Waterborne illnesses of this type are usually acquired through direct contact with pool decks and locker room floors which have been contaminated. Contamination of these surfaces, are usually caused by skin fragments that are the cause of the infections.The skin fragments which are shed by other users, are normally infected with causative papliomavirus. Ordinarily, preventing plantar warts is achieved through regular cleaning and maintenance of your swimming pool decks and locker room floors.Â
- Athlete’s foot. This is a ringworm infection that is caused by dermatophyte fungi. A very itchy scale between the toes is indication of this infection. Athlete’s foot is contracted in the same manner as plantar warts.Infections is again from infected skin fragments that have the dermatophyte fungi. Individuals with severe cases of this condition, should not be allowed to use your recreational water facility. This will eliminate infection of other users.Â
