A recent study published by the CDC shows the most frequent swimming pool chemical injury diagnosis is poisoning, and inhalation of vapors is the most frequent cause. No deaths were documented.
Patients typically were injured when handling pool chemicals without using personal protective equipment such as goggles (especially while opening containers), when pool chemicals were added to the water just before the patient entered the water (frequently in residential and hotel settings), and when pool chemicals were not secured away from children.
Before you use swimming pool or spa chemicals:
- Get trained in pool chemical safety (e.g., during an operator training course)
- Ask for help if you are not trained for specific tasks
- Read entire product label or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before using
- Keep young children away when handling chemicals
- Dress for safety by wearing appropriate safety equipment (e.g., safety goggles, gloves, and respirator)
- Read chemical product labels before each use - Handle in a well-ventilated area - Open one product container at a time and close it before opening another
- Minimize dust, fumes, and splashes - Measure carefully - Never mix: - chlorine products with acid; this could create toxic gases- different pool chemicals (e.g., different types of chlorine products) with each other or with any other substance
- Only predissolve pool chemicals when directed by product label - If product label directs predissolving, add pool chemical to water; never add water to pool chemical because a violent (potentially explosive) reaction can occur
- Read more on the study.
- Review CDC recommendations for preventing pool chemical injuries.
- Visit the CDC Healthy Swimming site.
- Visit the Healthy Pools website for a variety of resources.
- Watch a video on pool chemical safety by the Chlorine Institute and the American Chemistry Council.
- Browse pool safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.
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