Overview
Today marks the beginning of Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, an annual observance hosted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Every year, the CDC features a swimming-related topic to raise awareness about preventing the spread of germs, injuries, and loss of life at aquatic venues. The campaign also highlights the important roles that swimmers, caregivers, aquatics and beach staff, residential pool owners, and public health officials play in keeping swimming environments healthy and safe.
This year’s theme is “Don’t let diarrhea sink the fun this summer!” It focuses on practical ways to prevent and avoid getting or spreading diarrhea while swimming. In recognition of this theme, NACCHO would like to acknowledge the vital role that local health departments (LHDs) and aquatic venue operators play in keeping aquatic spaces free of diarrheal outbreaks while providing an overview of resources for LHD officials and aquatic venue operators.
Healthy and Safe Swimming Week Campaign Resources
- Want to learn more about Healthy and Safe Swimming Week? Check out the Healthy and Safe Swimming Week Campaign webpage from the CDC and read more about this year’s topic.
- Looking for a way to get involved in this year’s campaign and spread the word? Check out the Healthy and Safe Swimming Week Communications Toolkit for social media content, information, and resources tailored to specific audiences like, media, pool operators, beach managers, pool supply stores, healthcare providers, community leaders.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/media/files/2026/04/26_364036-Swimming_and_diarrhea_graphic.mp4
Diarrheal Illnesses and Aquatic Venues
Some of the most common diarrhea-causing germs associated with recreational water illnesses include Cryptosporidium (Crypto), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus, and E. coli O157:H7. According to the CDC, even in properly chlorinated water, these germs can survive anywhere from a minute to several days. An individual can become sick from ingesting a small amount of contaminated water. Symptoms vary by the type of recreational water illness, but often include stomach cramps, nausea, watery diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. In severe cases, like with Cryptosporidium infections, the illness can become life-threatening, especially amongst vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant people, and immunosuppressed individuals.
Resources on Diarrheal Illnesses
- Check out the CDC’s Preventing Diarrheal Illnesses webpage to read more about preventative steps and strategies.
- Check out NACCHO’s Quick Guide on Cryptosporidium to learn more about what local health departments and aquatic pool operators can do to help reduce the spread of Cryptosporidium in aquatic venues.
Role of Local Health Departments
Local health departments play an important role in keeping swimmers and aquatic facilities safe. Through communication campaigns and local outreach, LHDs can educate the public on the dangers associated with swimming with diarrhea and highlight the importance of staying out of the water while sick. If an outbreak occurs, LHDs can disseminate closure notices and share guidance on symptoms associated with the outbreak. Routine inspections of aquatic facilities help ensure local facilities follow safety practices that prevent diarrheal illness outbreaks. For more in-depth guidance on routine inspections and how to respond to diarrheal contamination, refer to your jurisdiction’s guidance and the CDC’s MAHC Code.
Communication Campaign and Pool Inspection Resources
- Looking for infographics and communication resources to share with the public on swimming safety? Check out the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Communication Resources repository, for a list of resources in English and Spanish, to download and share with the public.
- Check out the CDC Pool Inspection Toolkit to learn more about the recommendations for health practitioners and download inspection forms, trainings, and a guide on how to use the data collected from pool inspections.
- Check out NACCHO’s Best Practices on Using the 5th Edition of the MAHC factsheet to learn more about some of the key updates made to the 5th edition of the MAHC.
Happy kids swimming underwater. Source: iStock
Role of Aquatic Venue Operators
Aquatic venue operators and employees are essential to ensuring swimmer safety by maintaining facilities and complying with health and safety regulations. In situations such as fecal contamination incidents or diarrheal illness outbreaks, they are often the first to respond to, and manage, the situation. By routinely monitoring, cleaning, and responding quickly to fecal contamination events, aquatic venue operators help reduce the risk of outbreaks.
Aquatic Professional Toolkit and Responding to Fecal Contamination Resources
- Check out the CDC Aquatic Professionals Toolkit to learn more about recommendations for operators who manage and maintain public aquatic facilities.
- Want to read more about what to do in case of a fecal contamination event in a pool? Check out CDC’s What to Do When There is Poop in the Pool webpage and the Fecal Incident Response Recommendations for Aquatic Staff.
- Check out the CDC’s Responding to Pool Contamination webpage to read about methods for keeping pools safe from diarrhea-causing germs and how to manage other forms of contamination.
Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) Resources
- Check out the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) to learn more about the lates science and best practices around preventing injury and illness linked to aquatic venues.
- If you would like to learn more about how you can best use the MAHC, check out the CDC’s MAHC Tools and Training webpage.
- Interested in learning how to implement the MAHC Code at the local level? Explore our NACCHO blog below and watch the MAHC Network Webinar recording to discover how the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment adopted and implemented the MAHC Code.
