Make Swimming Healthier & Safer: Model Aquatic Health Code 1st Edition Released Today

Make Swimming Healthier & Safer: Model Aquatic Health Code 1st Edition Released Today

Make Swimming Healthier & Safer: Model Aquatic Health Code 1^st Edition Released Today

August 29, 2014

Thank you for your interest in the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), a collaborative effort of public health, academia, and industry working to protect individuals, families, and communities from preventable waterborne diseases and injuries through evidence-based guidance. Our vision is “Healthy and Safe Aquatic Experiences for Everyone.” Read below for the latest information.

MAHC 1^st Edition now available

Today we launched the nation’s first voluntary guidelines based on science and best practices for improving health and safety at swimming pools and other aquatic venues: The Model Aquatic Health Code 1^stEdition. States and localities can use the MAHC to create or update existing pool codes to reduce risk for outbreaks, drowning, and pool-chemical injuries.

Creating the MAHC has been a tremendous process, and CDC thanks the many organizations and individuals who have worked together to develop this document. The MAHC 1^st Edition is a product of seven years of work, involving a steering committee, 12 technical committees, 140 people, and input and consensus from public health, aquatics, and academia. In two rounds of public comment, we received more than 4,400 comments—nearly three-quarters of which we accepted to make the MAHC even better.

New materials to promote the MAHC

As we launch the MAHC 1^st Edition, we have also updated and created a number of materials to help potential users and stakeholders learn about the MAHC:

• Reorganized and expanded MAHC website
• New MAHC materials
  • Button to promote the MAHC on websites, blogs, and social networks
  • Fact sheets to print and share
  • Infographic to view, share, and print
• New MAHC Training & Education page
• Updated MAHC newsroom

Spread the word

Please remind your colleagues that the MAHC 1^st Edition is now available. We encourage you to forward this email and/or to use your social media channels to spread the word. You may use, edit, or customize the following sample posts for use on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc.:

• States and localities can help keep swimming healthy and fun. Want to know how? Learn about the new #MAHC: http://go.usa.gov/mXZJ

• New #MAHC uses latest scientific research to address key public health issues in pools & other aquatic facilities. http://go.usa.gov/mXZJ

• With new #MAHC, local & state agencies can incorporate the latest science into pool inspection & safety programs. http://go.usa.gov/mXZJ 

Meet the CMAHC

Please check out our new partner, The Conference for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) atwww.cmahc.org. The CMAHC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created in 2013 to support and improve public health by promoting healthy and safe aquatic experiences for everyone. The CMAHC will serve as a key CDC partner by serving as a national clearinghouse for gathering stakeholder input and advice on needed improvements to the MAHC.