Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of summer. This is also the usual time that public and private outdoor swimming facilities are opened for the summer season. As a result, it is also the time when injuries can occur due to the use of pool chemicals, such as chlorine, bromine, PHMB and muriatic acid. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that nearly 5,000 emergency room visits in 2012 were caused by injuries from pool chemicals. The CDC analyzed data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) in arriving at the approximately 5,000 emergency room visit number.

The three most common pool chemical injuries, which are preventable, according to the CDC report, were:

1. respiratory problems, caused by inhaling fumes;
2. eye injuries, caused by failure to wear protective eye gear, like goggles, either while handling chemicals or swimming to quickly after chemicals were added to the pool; and
3. skin injuries, caused by direct contact with the pool chemicals.

The CDC report indicates that no deaths were reported, but that about half of the patients with pool chemical injuries in the NEISS survey were children. Most of these injuries occurred at pools or hot tubs at private homes, although approximately 40% of the injuries were work related.

The CDC report indicated that the factors most commonly involved in pool chemical injuries included:

1. Mixing incompatible chemicals;
2. Accidental spills and splashes; and
3. Improper storage.

Additional information on pool chemical safety can be found on the CDC’s website.

If you or someone you love were injured by pool chemicals, due to a product you believe is defective or from the improper handling and usage of the chemicals by the pool’s owner, contact us to discuss the facts of your potential claim.