It's Healthy and Safe Swimming Week 2015!

Each year, Healthy and Safe Swimming Week (formerly Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week) focuses on simple steps swimmers and pool operators can take to help ensure a healthy and safe swimming experience for everyone. This year’s theme is “Make a Healthy Splash: Share the Fun, not the Germs,” focusing on the role of swimmers, aquatics and beach staff, residential pool owners, and public health officials in preventing disease outbreaks, drowning, and pool chemical injuries. New materials  Newly published articles in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)  Norovirus Outbreak associated with Natural Lake Used for Recreation — Oregon, 2014 Healthy and Safe Swimming Week communication toolkit, with community outreach suggestions, resources/links, and press release, op-ed, and proclamation templates FREE brochures and Information about the easy steps for healthy Swimming (available in English and Spanish)  Buttons and Banners to promote Healthy and Safe Swimming Week and healthy swimming Healthy and Safe Swimming Week Feature on CDC.gov New poster about the gunk that comes off of swimmers' bodies in the pool New poster about the few easy steps for healthy swimming New "Outbreak Detectives" educational module involving aquatics for Grades 5-7. It Runs in the Community: Investigating a Waterborne Outbreak of Diarrheal Illness Expanded Healthy Swimming website, with web content syndication Model Aquatic Health Code milestone reached The Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) 1st Edition, the nation’s first all inclusive, science-based model guidance for swimming pools and other aquatic venues, was released at the end of last year’s swim season. It is now available on CDC’s MAHC website for download and use by state and local health officials and the aquatics sector.  Conference for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) discussing potential changes to the MAHC 1st Edition The CMAHC is a nonprofit organization created to support and improve public health by promoting healthy and safe aquatic experiences for everyone. The CMAHC serves as the national clearinghouse for input and advice on potential changes to CDC’s MAHC. It will be hosting the 2015 CMAHC Biennial Conference to continue the strong partnership between public health and the aquatics sector that was created during development of the MAHC. The CMAHC will strengthen this partnership while gathering input on potential changes needed to keep the MAHC up to date with the latest science, best practices, and design innovations. Change requests for the MAHC 1st Editionare under review now so become a member of the CMAHC and get involved in the discussion leading up to the October Biennial Conference. Save the date: The World's Largest Swimming Lesson -- June 18, 2015 The World's Largest Swimming Lesson aims to draw attention to the importance of teaching children how to swim as a key component in drowning prevention. On June 18, pools, waterparks, and other aquatic facilities around the globe will host local swimming lessons simultaneously in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record.  Get involved today!

For more information visit www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming