Minnesota Health Officials Call For Closer Attention To Swimming Pool Safety

Illnesses, injuries occur each year that can be prevented with better practices

April 9, 2008 -- While the vast majority of swimming pools in the state are operated safely, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) each year investigates a number of incidents involving pools where the public’s health and safety were put at risk.

A swimming woman: Photo by Gabriel (CC)

In the last nine months there have been nine reported serious incidents at Minnesota swimming pools or water parks, where people became ill, were injured or died.

In one of these incidents, Abigail Taylor suffered serious injuries at the Minneapolis Golf Club (MGC) pool in St. Louis Park that eventually led to her death. The six-year old was injured when she sat on an open drain in the wading pool; the heavy suction at the drain caused her intestinal tract to be partially removed.

In its investigation of the June 2007 MGC incident, MDH learned that:

* The wading pool and equipment were not maintained in a proper operating condition. The cover of the main drain of the pool was not securely attached to the mounting frame and became detached prior to the injury. The main drain cover had been attached with improper fasteners and a worn mounting ring.
* The pool water was cloudy so that the bottom of the pool, including the drain, was not visible, as reported by witnesses. The cloudy water can be evidence of improper operation of the circulation system of the pool.
* A second suction line may have been blocked, shut off or compromised, which could have caused excessive suction at the main drain.
* MGC staff were not adequately trained to respond to unsafe conditions at the pool.

“Most pool injuries and illnesses can be prevented. Abigail Taylor’s death is a tragic loss for her family. It is our hope that by providing information about what went wrong, we can prevent terrible accidents like this from ever happening again,” said John Linc Stine, director of environmental health for MDH.

Last summer, following the accident, MDH issued a safety warning to licensed pool owners/operators in the state urging them to make sure drain covers were fitted and secured properly and to check them daily. MDH has issued an Administrative Penalty Order against the Minneapolis Golf Club; the club has appealed the order. The matter is currently before an administrative law judge. In its investigation summary, MDH notes that investigators were not able to conclusively identify all of the contributing factors that led to this accident due to delayed reporting and a lack of cooperation by MGC.

State health officials are calling on pool operators to pay close attention to pool operating procedures and for the public to observe pool rules.

“The public’s health and safety are paramount when it comes to public swimming pools,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Sanne Magnan. “Safe operation of pools is the primary responsibility of the owner and operator.”

Besides the Abigail Taylor incident, others that occurred in Minnesota in the last nine months were:
July 2007: 20 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed in people who swam at a public pool.
September 2007: 58 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed in people who visited a hotel water park.
November 2007: Six cases of otitis exertna (“swimmers ear”) diagnosed in guests at a hotel likely due to inadequate chlorine levels in the pool and lack of managerial oversight.
November 2007: Five cases of dermatitis, a skin infection, diagnosed in guests at a hotel likely due to inadequate chlorine levels in the pool and lack of managerial oversight.
November-December 2007: 31 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed in people who swam at a public pool.
December 2007: Three people suffered chemical burns at a hotel pool due to improperly balanced pool chemistry and lack of managerial oversight.
February 2008: A 17 year-old drowned in a hotel pool after heavy drinking.
March 2008: Thirty-eight high school students and staff reported illness after a swimming pool pump was turned on while a class was in the pool area.

“The clear lesson from all of these incidents is that when proper operating procedures and pool safety rules are not followed, there can be serious consequences,” Stine said.

As part of its effort to raise awareness of the importance of pool safety, MDH is making summaries of these incidents, including the MGC incident, available on its Web site. In addition, fact sheets on safe pool operation for pool operators and pool safety for parents have also been posted. Also, links to current legislation designed to strengthen pool regulation at both the federal and state level are posted.

“Proper pool operation and safe enjoyment of swimming pools requires a balance of proper physical conditions of a pool, including safety equipment, correct water chemistry, and observance of pool rules by patrons so that all swimmers are safe,” said Colleen Paulus, manager of the MDH section that includes public swimming pool inspections and oversight.

On its Web site materials and in notices to pool operators in the state, MDH has advised pool operators of their roles and responsibilities and provided some “lessons learned” from incidents. For example:

* Check drain covers daily; make sure they are securely attached with the proper screws, according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
* Make sure all drain and suction lines are open and operating properly; if they are not, this can lead to unsanitary conditions and a risk of serious injury.
* Maintain balanced chemistry in the pool; there are no shortcuts to good maintenance.
* Have a Certified Trained Operator or an alternate trained operator available whenever the pool is open for use – it’s required of all public pools; fulfill all training requirements.
* Do not have people in the pool while doing any maintenance, including vacuuming.
* Do not open the pool for use until proper operation has been verified.
* Keep records for six years.
* Report all accidents requiring emergency services to MDH before the end of the next business day.

Health officials also want people to know that there are some things they can do to protect their own health and safety when swimming. “Swimming is good physical activity, and we want people to continue, but we need everyone to observe pool rules so that everyone can swim safely,” Stine said.
For those who use swimming pools, including parents of young children, MDH advises:

* If the water is cloudy, do not go in the pool; report it to the pool operator.
* If you have been ill with diarrhea in the last two weeks, do not go in the pool.
* Do not allow children who have been ill with diarrhea or vomiting in the last two weeks to swim.
* Avoid swallowing pool water.
* Follow all other posted pool rules, which include bathing/showering before entering the pool.
* Do not drink and swim; people who are intoxicated should not be in the pool area.
* Keepan eye on your child at all times.
* Take your kids on frequent bathroom breaks.

“Safe swimming is everyone’s responsibility, beginning with pool operators and owners.” Stine said. More information on pool safety can be found at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/pools/poolincidents.html.

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

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