Aquatic Health Conference© Sponsored by National Swimming Pool Foundation® (NSPF®)
by Anonymous

April 2, 2004 -- A series of symposia are scheduled to help guide public health officials and pool and spa operator instructors on health and safety issues that impact recreational water facilities. The symposia address specific challenges, including how they can protect people from disease outbreaks, suction entrapment, diving injuries, drowning, and harmful contaminants in the water. The symposia will also provide a forum for aquatic directors and program managers to learn from some of the best aquatics programs in the United States.

The Conference will have several symposia on topics including, but not limited to:
- Recreational Water Illness Outbreaks and Prevention Symposium
- Aquatic Programs Symposium
- Physical Safety and Liability Reduction Symposium
- Formation and Reduction of Disinfection By-Product Symposium
- Health Benefits of Aquatic Exercise Symposium
- Advanced Topics for Certified Pool and Spa Operator® (CPO®) Instructor Symposium
- Research Poster Session                               
On Sunday evening October 3, the Conference opens with a Reception, which will include a research poster session, vendor expo, and snacks. On Monday and Tuesday, October 4 and 5, the symposia will include speakers from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. On Monday evening from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Conference will feature a scholarship and research fellowship award ceremony, research poster session, vendor expo, and light snacks.

Conference attendees should register to attend by contacting NSPF® at 719-540-9119 or by downloading registration and conference location information from www.nspf.org and sending by mail or by FAX to 719-540-2787. The cost is $210 per attendee for registrations received before June 1, 2004. Registrations received after June 1, 2004 are $279. Late registrations after August 1, 2004, are $349. Information on sponsorships and vendor booths may also be found on the web site.

Recreational water research has languished for decades, with marginal or low funding. NSPF® took a major first step to help reverse the disturbing 10-year increase in disease outbreaks by funding the CDC's grant request for the "Healthy Swimming" Program, a noteworthy investment of $113,500, one-third of the NSPF® 2004 grant budget.

NSPF® has also initiated a program to fund as many as ten Research Fellowships to promote research in and around recreational water. The quality of life for many people is diminished due to lack of exercise and poor diet. In addition to protecting people who use pools and spas, the NSPF® has intensified its effort to understand how aquatic activities help mankind. This Aquatic Health Conference© plays in important role in accomplishing the NSPF® mission.

"Your local pool provides a fun way to get exercise. We have to make sure that when people use that pool, they don't get hurt, or ill. Sedentary lifestyles have resulted in too many lives lost prematurely due to heart disease, complications from diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. We want the local swimming pool to play a bigger role in helping people have fun and get healthy exercise. We are bringing together experts who can help us see the way," said Thomas M. Lachocki, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the NSPF®.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving public health by creating a safer aquatic environment through education and research and attracting more people to aquatic exercise. The Foundation also helps protect people by providing the Certified Pool and Spa Operator® (CPO®) program, which is the leading education and certification program for pool and spa operators. The CPO® graduate provides front-line defense with public health officials to protect the public. Information about NSPF® grant applications, scholarships, fellowships, and educational programs is available at www.nspf.org.

Aquatic Health Conference©
October 3-5, 2004
Atlanta, Georgia

Selected Invited Lecturers Include:
-Dr. Michael J. Beach, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
"Recreational Water Outbreaks & Lessons Learned"
-Dr. Joan Shields, CDC - "Research Advances on the Inactivation of Chlorine-Resistant Pathogens like Cryptosporidium"
-Dr. William N. Rowley, Rowley International,
"Suction Entrapment Research and Conclusions"
-Dr. Glen Egstrom, Professor Emeritus UCLA - "The Shallow Water Diving Dilemma"
-Mr. John Spannuth, U.S. Water Fitness Association - "Aquatic Program Traits of Excellence"
-Dr. R. Neil Lowry, Lowry & Associates - "Advanced Pool & Spa Water Chemistry"
-Dr. Roy Vore, Avecia - "Advanced Pool & Spa Microbiology"
-Mr. Ronald Ford, Tropical Aquatics Marketing -
"The New Certified Pool and Spa Operator® Manual 2004"
-Dr. Alex Antonio, Rutgers University -
"Public Health Department Swimming Pool & Spa Inspections"



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