{"id":16644,"date":"2023-12-27T09:10:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T14:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/?page_id=16644"},"modified":"2024-08-02T08:58:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T12:58:48","slug":"splash-pad-safety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/splash-pad-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Splash Pad Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-16644\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-16644-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-16644-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-16644-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-16644-0-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-16644\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/shutterstock_1949346232.jpg\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/shutterstock_1949346232.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/shutterstock_1949346232-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/shutterstock_1949346232-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/shutterstock_1949346232-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" title=\"&#8220;al,Ain,,Abu,Dhabi,,United,Arab,Emirates,-,March,29,\" alt=\"image of a splash pad or spray park\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-16644-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>A splash pad is an interactive water playground where people are sprayed with water. Splash pads are also called \"interactive fountains,\" \"spray pools or pads,\" \"splash parks,\" \"spray parks,\" or \"wet decks\" and can be located indoors or outdoors.<\/p>\n<p>Splash pads are often designed so standing water does not collect in the water play area to reduce the risk of drowning. Because of this design, not all splash pads are regulated, nor are they always required to disinfect the water with germ-killing chemicals. Splash pads can spread germs and make users sick if the water is not adequately disinfected. So, users and parents of young users should take their own steps to stop the spread of germs.<\/p>\n<h2>What can I do to protect my family?<\/h2>\n<p>Splash pad users and parents of young users can take a few steps to help stop the spread of germs in the water:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/splash-pad-DO-DONT.jpg\" alt=\"A table of things to do and not to do when playing at splash pads\" width=\"823\" height=\"418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/splash-pad-DO-DONT.jpg 823w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/splash-pad-DO-DONT-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/splash-pad-DO-DONT-768x390.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 823px) 100vw, 823px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Splash pads at hotels, campground, and summer camps are regulated by Virginia pool regulations. Splash pads that are not located at a permitted hotel, campground, or summer camp may be regulated by a local pool code or ordinance. For more information on splash pad regulations in your area, contact your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/local-health-districts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local health department<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How can I learn more?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) published a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naccho.org\/uploads\/downloadable-resources\/quickguide-August2023-splashpads-final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quick Guide for Preventing the Spread of Germs in Splash Pads<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mahc\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Model Aquatic Health Code<\/a> (MAHC) provides voluntary design, operation, and management standards for all types of aquatic venues.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthy-swimming\/safety\/stay-healthy-at-splash-pads.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthywater\/swimming\/swimmers\/water-play-areas-interactive-fountains.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage on splash pads<\/a> provides education and information on splash pad health and safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-16644-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-16644\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/Stop-germs-at-splash-pads-rectangle.gif\" width=\"1200\" height=\"674\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" alt=\"animated graphic of kids at splash pad\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A splash pad is an interactive water playground where people are sprayed with water. Splash pads are also called &#8220;interactive fountains,&#8221; &#8220;spray pools or pads,&#8221; &#8220;splash parks,&#8221; &#8220;spray parks,&#8221; or &#8220;wet decks&#8221; and can be located indoors or outdoors. Splash pads are often designed so standing water does not collect in the water play area [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":453,"featured_media":0,"parent":8591,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16644","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Splash Pad Safety - Environmental Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/splash-pad-safety\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Splash Pad Safety - Environmental Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A splash pad is an interactive water playground where people are sprayed with water. Splash pads are also called &quot;interactive fountains,&quot; &quot;spray pools or pads,&quot; &quot;splash parks,&quot; &quot;spray parks,&quot; or &quot;wet decks&quot; and can be located indoors or outdoors. 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