May 18, 2009
You may think the only danger posed by swimming pools is drowning, but
pool chemical injuries account for as many as 5,200 emergency room
visits each year.
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that these injuries are preventable, and during 2007 almost half of those injuries occurred at a residence.
According to the study, people can be injured by inhaling fumes when they open pool chemical containers, attempting to pre-dissolve pool chemicals, or handling them improperly. People can also be injured when chemicals splash into their eyes. These injuries typically occur during the summer swimming season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and can occur in or out of the pool.
In addition to pool chemical injuries, thousands of people each year suffer from recreational water illnesses. The study was released as part of of CDCs National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week, May 18-24. The week aims to raise awareness about healthy swimming behaviors, including ways to prevent recreational water illnesses and injuries.
Recreational water illnesses are illnesses spread by swallowing, inhaling vapors, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, water parks, spas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans.
"Pool chemicals make the water we swim in safer by protecting us from germs, but these same chemicals can also cause injuries if they are not properly handled," said Michele Hlavsa, the studys lead author and epidemiologist at CDC.
The study says public pool operators and residential pool owners can protect themselves and swimmers by always securing pool chemicals, reading product names and manufacturers directions before each use, using appropriate protective gear including safety glasses and gloves, and never mixing chlorine products with each other, with acid, or with any other substance.
