Interpretation of the Hygienic Specification for Infant Swimming and Bathing Places (DB32/T 4903-2024)

The Jiangsu local standard Hygienic Specification for Infant Swimming and Bathing Places (DB32/T 4903-2024) was issued on November 25, 2024 and came into effect on December 25, 2024. To address the challenges associated with infant and toddler swimming and bathing places, namely the young age of service recipients, multiple pathways of health risk exposure, and the inability of existing standards for public bath and swimming facilities to fully cover such places, this standard sets forth sanitary indicators and management requirements for layout and facilities, indoor environment, central air-conditioning ventilation systems, swimming pool water, bathing water, public articles and utensils, service hygiene, and hygiene management. Based on the standard development process, preliminary field monitoring data, and current relevant standards, this paper interprets the necessity of its formulation, major hygienic problems, the rationale for key indicator limits, key points of standard application, implementation difficulties, and future revision directions. Preliminary monitoring indicates that there is still significant room for improvement in aspects such as the total bacterial count in swimming water, bathing water temperature, indoor illuminance, noise levels, microbial contamination of public articles and utensils, hygiene management files, health certificates, and staff training. DB32/T 4903-2024 bridges national hygienic standards for public places with the health protection needs of vulnerable infants and toddlers, providing a basis for self-inspection and rectification by operators, technical guidance by disease prevention and control institutions, and supervision and management by relevant departments.