ACSM's Health / Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines Fourth edition

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Commendation Quotes: ""This edition provides updated information about and will be a valuable resource for owners and operators of health/fitness club facilities. The easy-to-follow format makes this book an extremely useful tool to use as these facilities strive to maintain high standards as the role of the health/fitness club industry evolves." " -- Keith Webster, MA, ATC, University of KentuckyBiographical Note: The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) advances and integrates scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. ACSM, founded in 1954, is a professional membership society with more than 20,000 national, regional, and international members in more than 70 countries dedicated to improving health through science, education, and medicine. ACSM members work in a wide range of medical specialties, allied health professions, and scientific disciplines. Its members are committed to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sport-related injuries and the advancement of the science of exercise. Its members' diversity and expertise make ACSM the largest, most respected sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. From astronauts and athletes to people with chronic diseases or physical challenges, ACSM continues to seek better methods to allow people to live longer and more productive lives. ACSM is leading the way in exercise science and sports medicine. James A. Peterson, PhD, and Stephen J. Tharrett, MS, bring much experience to this text. They were editors for the 2nd and 3rd editions and contributing authors on the 1st edition, which published in 1992. Table of Contents: Chapter 1 Pre-Activity Screening Standards for Pre-Activity Screening Guidelines for Pre-Activity Screening Chapter 2 Orientation, Education, and Supervision Standards for Orientation, Education, and Supervision Guidelines for Orientation, Education, and Supervision Chapter 3 Risk Management and Emergency Policies Standards for Risk Management and Emergency Policies Guidelines for Risk Management and Emergency Policies Chapter 4 Health/Fitness Facility Professional Staff and Independent Contractors Standards for Health/Fitness Facility Professional Staff and Independent Contractors Guidelines for Health/Fitness Facility Professional Staff and Independent Contractors Chapter 5 Health/Fitness Facility Operating Practices Standards for Health/Fitness Facility Operating Practices Guidelines for Health/Fitness Facility Operating Practices Chapter 6 Health/Fitness Facility Design and Construction Standards for Health/Fitness Facility Design and Construction Guidelines for Health/Fitness Facility Design and Construction Chapter 7 Health/Fitness Facility Equipment Standards for Health/Fitness Facility Equipment Guidelines for Health/Fitness Facility Equipment Chapter 8 Signage in Health/Fitness Facilities Standards for Signage in Health/Fitness Facilities Guidelines for Signage in Health/Fitness FacilitiesMarc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Publisher Marketing: "ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines, Fourth Edition, " presents the current standards and guidelines that help health and fitness establishments provide high-quality service and program offerings in a safe environment. This text is based in large part on both the work that has begun through the NSF international initiative to develop industry standards to serve as the foundation for a voluntary health and fitness facility certification process and the third edition of "ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines." The ACSM's team of experts in academic, medical, and health and fitness fields have put together an authoritative guide for facility operators and owners. By detailing these standards and guidelines and providing supplemental materials, "ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and" "Guidelines" provides a blueprint for health and fitness facilities to use in elevating the standard of care they provide their members and users as well as enhance their exercise experience. The fourth edition includes new standards and guidelines for pre-activity screening, orientation, education, and supervision; risk management and emergency procedures; professional staff and independent contractors; facility design and construction; facility equipment; operational practices; and signage. This edition includes these updates: -Standards and guidelines aligned with the current version of the pending NSF international health and fitness facility standards -New guidelines addressing individuals with special needs -New standards and guidelines regarding automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for both staffed and unstaffed facilities -Revised standards and guidelines to reflect changing directions and business models within the industry, including 24/7 fitness facilities, medically integrated facilities, and demographic-specific facilities -New standards and guidelines to better equip facilities that are dealing with youth to ensure the proper care of this segment of the clientele With improved organization, new visual features, and additional appendixes, the fourth edition offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use reference of health and fitness facility standards and guidelines. Readers can readily apply the information and save time and expense using over 30 templates found within the appendixes, including questionnaires, informed consent forms, and evaluation forms. Appendixes also contain more than 30 supplements, such as sample preventive maintenance schedules, checklists, and court and facility dimensions. Included in appendix A is Blueprint for Excellence, which allows readers to search efficiently for specific information regarding the standards and guidelines within the book. Health and fitness facilities provide opportunities for individuals to become and remain physically active. As the use of exercise for health care prevention and prescription continues to gain momentum, health and fitness facilities and clubs will emerge as an integral part of the health care system. The fourth edition of "ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards" "and Guidelines" will assist health and fitness facility managers, owners, and staff in keeping to a standard of operation, client care, and service that will assist members and users in caring for their health through safe and appropriate exercise experiences.

Contributor Bio:  Tharrett, Stephen J Stephen Tharrett, M. S. has been involved in the fitness and sport industry for over 26 years. He has served on the board of the International Health, Racquet and Sportclub Association (IHRSA), was a member of IRHSA's membership committee, and was IHRSA president from 1996 to 1997. He has served as a contributing editor for the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) Health Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines, and has served the ACSM in several other capacities, including being a member of the ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal editorial advisory board, as well as chairing both the committee on health and fitness and the marketing sub-committee for the education and certification committees. He has been a member of the advisory boards for Star Trac and StairMaster. Finally, Stephen has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Arlington and a lecturer at the IHRSA Institute of Professional Management. Contributor Bio:  Peterson, James A About the Author After studying chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley, James Peterson fell in love with food while picking grapes for a winemaker in the south of France. He studied in France at Le Cordon Bleu, and later worked at the then three-star restaurants Le Vivarois and Chez La Mere Blanc (now Georges Blanc). Peterson returned to the United States in 1979 and was partner and chef at Le Petit Robert in New York's Greenwich Village, and has also taught and developed curriculum at The French Culinary Institute in Manhattan and taught at Peter Kump's New York Cooking School. Peterson has translated six French books on pastry and baking, and is the author of Sauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making, the first edition of which was The James Beard Foundation Cookbook of the Year in 1992. He also wrote Splendid Soups, which was nominated for a James Beard Foundation award in 1994, and Fish and Shellfish, winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Julia Child Award for best book on a single subject. His latest book, Vegetables, appeared in the spring of 1998.