Healthy and Safe Swimming Week
This is the official website of Healthy Safe and Swimming Week.
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Overview
Formerly known as Recreational Water Illness and Injury (RWII) Prevention Week, the week before Memorial Day has been designated National Healthy and Safe Swimming Week. Healthy and Safe Swimming Week 2017 will take place May 22-28, 2017, marking the 13th anniversary of this observance.
Each year, Healthy and Safe Swimming Week focuses on simple steps swimmers and pool operators can take to help ensure a healthy and safe swimming experience for everyone. It focuses on the role of swimmers, aquatics and beach staff, residential pool owners, and public health officials in preventing drowning, pool chemical injuries, and outbreaks of illnesses. It highlights swimmer hygiene and the need for swimmers to take an active role in helping to protect themselves and prevent the spread of germs. These messages are reinforced by health promotion materials to educate the public on how to prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs).
What are RWIs?
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. RWIs can also be caused by chemicals in the water or chemicals that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems. Diarrhea is the most common RWI, and it is often caused by germs like Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, norovirus, Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7. Other common RWIs include skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for RWIs. More information about RWIs can be found on the Recreational Water Illnesses page.
Dates of Celebration and Additional Resources
2017
May 22–28, 2017
- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: Response Tools for Public Health Professionals
- MMWR Announcement: Healthy and Safe Swimming Week — May 22-28, 2017
- Hlavsa MC, Roellig DM, Seabolt MH, Kahler AM, Murphy JL, McKitt TK, Geeter EF, Dawsey R, Davidson SL, Kim TN, Tucker TH, Iverson SA, Garrett B, Fowle N, Collins J, Epperson G, Zusy S, Weiss JR, Komatsu K, Rodriguez E, Patterson JG, Sunenshine R, Taylor B, Cibulskas K, Denny L, Omura K, Tsorin B, Fullerton KE, Xiao L. Using molecular characterization to support investigations of aquatic facility–associated outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis — Alabama, Arizona, and Ohio, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66(19):493-7.
2016
2015
May 18-24, 2015
- CDC Features – Healthy and Safe Swimming Week
- Zlot A, Simckes M, Vines J, Reynolds L, Sullivan A, Scott M, McLuckie JM, Kromer D, Hill VR, Yoder JS, Hlavsa MC. Norovirus outbreak associated with a natural lake used for recreation – Oregon, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(18):485-90.
- MMWR: Announcement: Healthy and Safe Swimming Week – May 18-24, 2015
- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: Response Tools for Public Health Professionals
2014
May 19-25, 2014
- Gilchrist J, Parker EM. Racial/ethnic disparities in fatal unintentional drowning among persons aged ≤29 Years — United States, 1999–2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(19):421-6.
- Hlavsa MC, Robinson TJ, Collier SA, Beach MJ. Pool chemical–associated health events in public and residential settings — United States, 2003–2012, and Minnesota, 2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(19):427-30.
- MMWR: Announcement: Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week 2014
- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: Response Tools for Public Health Professionals
2013
May 20-26, 2013
2012
May 21-27, 2012
- MMWR: Report: Promotion of Healthy Swimming After a Statewide Outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis Associated with Recreational Water Venues — Utah, 2008–2009
- MMWR: Report: Drowning — United States, 2005–2009
- MMWR: Announcement: Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week 2012
- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: Response Tools for Public Health Professionals
2011
2010
May 24-30, 2010
- Fact Sheets on Frequently Asked RWI Questions
- MMWR: Report: Violations Identified from Routine Swimming Pool Inspections — Selected States and Counties, United States, 2008
- MMWR: Notice to Readers: National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week (2010)
- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: Response Tools for Public Health Professionals
2009
May 18-24, 2009
- CDC Brochure: Healthy Swimming
- In The Swim of Things
- Podcast – In the Swim of Things (4:13)
- Video – In the Swim of Things (3:52)
- MMWR: Notice to Readers: National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week (2009)
- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week: Response Tools for Public Health Professionals
2008
2007
2006
2005
- Page last reviewed: July 12, 2017
- Page last updated: July 12, 2017
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