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The Water Recreation Program Staff work to reduce the risk of
unintentional drowning and to prevent illness for people who swim,
soak, or play in public pool, spas, hot tubs or natural bodies
of water through the following activities:
- Conducting routine inspections of public swimming pools,
spas and hot tubs. During inspections staff:
- Check the levels of chemicals in the pool to make certain
that the pool water contains enough chlorine or bromine
to prevent harmful bacteria or virus from reaching unsafe
levels.
- Make certain that fences and gates that help to keep
small children from entering the pool area without a parent
or guardian meet minimum standards.
- Check to make certain pool operators have all the necessary
equipment needed to respond to emergencies.
- Review the records kept by pool operators that show how
frequently they test the pool and the results of the testing.
- Investigate drowning and near drowning incidents.
- Investigate possible illnesses.
- Investigate complaints.
- Provide community education opportunities to lifeguards,
pool operators, and community groups on water recreation safety.
2013 Pool Conference
The Whatcom County Health Department will be hosting the 10th Annual Pool Conference on April 25, 2013 at
St Lukes Health Education Center (3333 Squalicum Parkway, Room A).
Frequently Asked Questions
I was swimming in a pool and a day later I noticed I had
a rash, what should I do?
Contact your health care provider first and tell them that
you developed a rash after swimming in a pool. They can evaluate
the need for treatment to make you well. Contact our office and
let us know the name of the pool. We will investigate the incident
and attempt to determine the cause of the rash.
I was swimming in a lake and developed what my neighbor called
swimmers itch. What should I do?
Contact your health care provider for treatment. Contact
our department to report when and where you went swimming.
What is swimmers itch anyway?
Swimmers itch usually refers to a rash caused by a little
parasite that burrows under your skin and dies. To avoid the
rash, you should shower immediately after leaving the water and
towel dry and put on some dry clothes. Try to remove little water
droplets before they dry on your skin. The little parasite lives
in the water and can survive in a water droplet long enough to
burrow under your skin.
Why do the hotels always have a big fence and gate around
their pool?
Unintentional drowning remains as a leading cause of death
for small children. The fence and gate keep the unattended small
children away from the pool.
I went swimming and the water was so cloudy I couldn't see the bottom of the pool, is this a problem?
Yes, not being able to detect distressed or drowning bathers is always a cause for alarm. Additionally, poor water clarity is often a result of poor filtration, poor disinfection, poor water balance, slow turnover rates, and over-saturation of chemical stabilizer. Report this immediately to the pool facility's person in charge, and then call our office. A pool in this condition is required by state law to shut down until this condition is corrected.
Contact Information:
Address
Whatcom County Health Department
Environmental Health
Water Recreation Program
509 Girard Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 676-6724
Fax: (360) 676-6771
Program Supervisor: Tom Kunesh
E-mail: health@whatcomcounty.us
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