Abstract

Getting Into the Swim of Aquatic Facility Inspections

Christl Tate, B.S.1, Jasen Kunz, REHS2 and Michele Hlavsa, RN, MPH3
(1)National Environmental Health Association, Denver, CO, (2)Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA, (3)Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, National Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Atlanta, GA

APHA 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2016)

Aquatic facility inspections done by environmental health practitioners are complex and challenging. In 2014 the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) launched the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) to make swimming and other aquatics activities healthier and safer. The MAHC is a guidance document based on science and best practices that states and localities can adapt or voluntarily adopt to create or update existing pool codes to reduce risk for outbreaks, drowning, and pool-chemical injuries. The MAHC guidelines are all-inclusive and address the design, construction, operation, maintenance, policies, and management of public aquatic facilities. The MAHC also introduces new guidelines, and inspection protocols (e.g., model inspection form) that inspectors or aquatic facility operators (e.g., pre-opening checklist) might not be familiar with. To support MAHC use, NEHA has partnered with CDC to develop a MAHC online aquatic facility inspection training program. By incorporating the inspection protocols and guidance described in the MAHC into a national training program, we are ensuring that state and local environmental health aquatic inspection programs are able to put into practice the inspection elements noted in the MAHC. The no-cost training will be easily accessible online and broken down into a series of manageable courses. The training program will be centered on the model inspection form to encourage a standardized approach to aquatic facility inspections. The creation of the model inspection form also sets the stage for developing an open data standard that can be used to inform environmental health aquatic inspection program planning, implementation, and evaluation (e.g., inform targeting of code enforcement and education efforts) and the public's decision making on which aquatic facilities to patronize. Additionally, information will be shared regarding using the data collected from the inspection process to support the decision making process in local and state health departments, including cross-jurisdictional comparisons.

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Environmental health sciences Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines