Assure Your Vote in the MAHC Update Process

Source: The Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC)

Decatur, Ga., July 28, 2015 —The Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) announces that CMAHC members will be voting on more than 150 proposed changes to the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) this October. The CMAHC is the non-profit machine that drives the MAHC change process. People are encouraged to join CMAHC so they can have a voice in the MAHC update. The voting will take place electronically during, and for two weeks after, the first CMAHC Vote on the Code 2015 Biennial Conference. The conference is slated for October 6-7, 2015, at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz., just prior to the 12th World Aquatic Health Conference at the same location.

“Only CMAHC members have the ability to comment on proposed changes to the MAHC and only members can vote on the proposed changes; so if professionals and organizations care about what is in the MAHC, about the MAHC’s future, and want to maximize the opportunities for safe and healthy aquatic experiences for the public, it’s important to take the wise step and join CMAHC; the cost is $40.00 for a two-year membership,” explained Doug Sackett, Executive Director of CMAHC. “The CMAHC is unique in that no other organization exists exclusively to advocate, evolve, innovate, promote implementation, and organize research in support of the Model Aquatic Health Code,” he added.

This is the year the CMAHC invites attendees to the Vote on the Code 2015 Biennial Conference for discussion and greater understanding on new and updated content for the MAHC. Registrants can further educate themselves by hearing discussion and the rationale behind the more than 150 proposed changes on which members will vote electronically during the conference and for the two weeks following the conference.

The MAHC, unlike other codes, is kept sustainable, current, and complete because the people who use it vote on its content every other year via membership in the CMAHC. It is based on scientific data and best practices gathered through a strong partnership between public health and aquatics industry experts; thus it is easier to adopt and implement. Unlike legislation, the MAHC is voluntarily adopted wholly or in part and driven by your expertise. It is free, accessible to all, backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will become the international standard.

It took dozens of volunteer experts seven years to create the MAHC, which is the only all-inclusive, science-based, data-driven model pool code in existence. The MAHC was released in the summer of 2014. The MAHC guides aquatic facility, design, construction, operation, maintenance, policies and management of public aquatic facilities. “States and localities can use the MAHC to write or update existing pool codes to reduce risk for outbreaks, drowning, and pool-chemical injuries. And aquatics industry leaders don’t have to wait for a government agency to adopt the MAHC. They can implement key MAHC elements now,” added Michael Beach, Ph.D., Associate Director for Healthy Water in CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases and Chief of the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch.

About The CMAHC
The CMAHC is a unique, non-profit organization that educates local and state authorities, aquatic facility owners, operators, designers, manufacturers, builders and retailers about the MAHC and promotes its updating and voluntary adoption across the U.S. The CMAHC is a conduit for funneling advice to CDC as well as data-driven, science-based information from public health and aquatic industry experts committed to healthy and safe swimming by keeping the MAHC current, sustainable, and easily understood and implemented. Become a Member. Become a Sponsor. cmahc.org