Pool Emergency Response Plans and the Operator's Duty of Care

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a documented, practiced protocol for responding to aquatic emergencies. Florida county health departments require EAPs for all public pools. For residential pool owners and private facility operators, having a plan — even an informal one — dramatically improves response time and outcomes when seconds count.

What an EAP covers

A complete aquatic EAP addresses:

• Emergency contacts — 911, facility manager, owner, and medical contacts with current phone numbers
• Chain of command — who does what during an emergency (who calls 911, who administers CPR, who clears bystanders)
• AED location and use — where the defibrillator is, who is trained to use it
• Emergency equipment locations — reaching pole, ring buoy, first aid kit, spinal backboard
• Pool closure procedures — when and how to clear the pool for fecal incidents, chemical emergencies, or severe weather
• Chemical emergency procedures — spill response, over-dosing response, evacuation procedures
• Post-incident documentation — incident report forms, notification requirements

Florida public pool requirements

Under Florida Administrative Code 64E-9, public pools must have a written EAP that:

• Is posted or immediately accessible at the pool
• Lists the address of the pool facility (for 911 dispatch)
• Includes procedures for fecal contamination incidents (formed and diarrheal)
• Is reviewed and updated at least annually
• Is practiced by all pool staff with documented drills

Fecal incident response (summary)

The fecal incident response procedure is the most detailed component of most EAPs. For a formed stool incident, the CDC MAHC protocol requires:

1. Close pool, remove all bathers
2. Remove visible fecal matter with net, dispose in trash (not into pool water)
3. Raise FC to 2 ppm (if not already there) and pH to 7.5
4. Maintain contact time per MAHC table (typically 25 minutes at 2 ppm, 7.5 pH)
5. Confirm CT was achieved with verified test readings
6. Reopen pool

A diarrheal incident requires far longer closure (12.75 hours at 2 ppm FC for Cryptosporidium) — hence the importance of asking bathers about recent illness.

Chemical emergency response

Every pool should have current Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all chemicals used on-site. In the event of a chemical spill, exposure, or over-dosing:

• Evacuate the pool area
• Do not re-enter until the chemical is contained and tested
• For skin/eye exposure: flush with copious water for 15 minutes, seek medical attention
• For suspected chemical gas exposure: remove affected person to fresh air, call poison control (1-800-222-1222)

An EAP that's only written down is a document. An EAP that's practiced is a plan. Run a drill at least once a year so the people who need to respond don't read the plan for the first time during the emergency.