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Pool where girl drowned rated 'satisfactory' in health check

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By JEFF SCULLIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2009

TAMPA - The pool where an 11-year-old girl drowned Wednesday was cited for minor violations in March, one involving a handrail or ladder and another the posting of pool rules.

Three lifeguards were on duty when Britney Mills was spotted at the bottom of the Cyrus Green Pool at the College Hill Recreation Center. Making sure lifeguard certification forms are correct and are kept onsite is one of 49 health-related items on the pool checklist that county health department inspectors follow in Florida.

An investigation into the death is under way.

The overall finding of the March health inspection at Cyrus Green was satisfactory. Satisfactory was also the finding during an inspection there July 2, 2008, conducted following construction at the pool.

Health concerns rise at public pools during the warm summer months as large numbers of people gather to swim, but inspecting the pools is a year-round job in Florida's 67 counties.

County health departments send inspectors to check twice a year on most pools where the public swims, whether they are publicly or privately owned.

These include city pools, pools at hotels, motels, apartment complexes, schools, water parks, camps, YMCAs, health clubs and pools maintained by homeowners associations.

Inspectors note any problems, talk with the pool's operator about how to deal with any issues and, generally, rate the pool as either "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory." If a problem arises, the inspector schedules a follow-up or asks that it be fixed before the next inspection.

In general, the inspectors' approach is more about education and helping pool operators stay on top of ongoing maintenance.

"Most of the things we're giving people time to make corrections," said Patti Anderson with the state Department of Health's Bureau of Water Programs.

"It's in the owner's best interest," Anderson said. "They can get sued."

The inspectors check whether handrails, diving boards and poolside showers are in good working condition; whether the pool has a life ring or hook and has safety rules posted; whether its electrical equipment works properly and there's a secure fence around the swimming area.

The state does not require lifeguards at any of the tens of thousands of pools inspected. But if an owner chooses to use lifeguards, health inspectors do check to make sure certification forms are correct and kept on site.

The state does require that the pools use certified pool service technicians. Health inspectors also check that these certification forms are correct and kept on site.

Repeat offenders face fines. A handful of violations indicate potentially serious public safety threats and can get a pool closed on the spot.

Those violations can arise from the level of disinfectant in the water, enough to kill harmful microorganisms but not enough to burn a person; water clarity, so someone in trouble can easily be spotted; and drain covers, so swimmers aren't caught in a pool's suction.

Any one of those violations is enough to shut down a pool.

"We're always worried about having proper disinfection going on and proper maintenance," said Anderson.

Many pools test the water every day, to make sure it has the right chemical balance. Places that attract bigger crowds test the water more often, Anderson said.

In some cases, pool operators shut down pools themselves, such as when a child defecates in the water, when a pool is being "shocked" with high levels of chlorine, or when equipment failure throws off the chemical balance. These closures don't show up in inspectors' reports but have to be logged in a pool's maintenance records.

So how do you know if the pool you're swimming in is OK? A good way to start is to check its inspection records here.

If it has been closed a number of times or the more serious violations keep turning up, chances are it's a dirty pool, Anderson said.

Editor Jeff Scullin can be reached at (813) 259-7305.

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