Author: Kailee Curtis

Recreational Facility Safety

Public places like pools and spas, beaches, children’s camps, campgrounds, and RV parks are important community recreation places. They can also be prime locations for waterborne and communicable diseases to spread. Environmental Health (EH) divisions at local health departments regularly inspect and monitor these recreational facilities to ensure that they are safe and healthy. Inspections include sampling pool and beach waters, checking that community wells are functioning properly and free of contaminants, and ensuring that human waste is disposed safely.

Key Positions
Environmental Health Sanitarians
Environmental Health Secretaries
Environmental Health Supervisors

Combined FTE: 0.63

Meets Public Health Standards:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
	Public Health Accreditation Board

Health Improvement Efforts:

FY17 Funding Sources for BEDHD Recreational Facility Inspections:

	Barry Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan
	Eaton Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan

Aligns with BEDHD Strategic Priorities:

State Grants

Local Funding

Fees

Healthy and safe food, water, and air
Protect the community from potential health hazards

Impact: BEDHD issued a public health advisory in July 2017 for a local swimming beach. There was a possible presence of toxic algae that can cause harmful algal blooms. While test results eventually showed that the toxin was not present at levels that would be a threat to human health, the public was warned of the potential threat.

Services:
BEDHD Environmental Health (EH) sanitarians provide inspection, regulation, and licensing services for public swimming pools and spas, public bathing beaches, children’s camps, and public campgrounds and RV parks. Many of these activities are seasonal, in the warmer months. BEDHD conducts operational inspections, reviews operating reports, and monitors sample results.
Goals:
Regulation, inspection, and licensing activities in recreational facilities is intended to:
Assess facilities and recreation areas and/or educate operators on various EH factors that could negatively impact the health and safety of the public.
Reduce injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Promote healthy recreation and public awareness.