While the 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. 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.

“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.

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.

“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.

MDH advises pool operators to:

* 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.

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.