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Pool chemical injuries cause more than 4,500 ER visits each year, CDC says

The most common injury from handling pool chemicals between 2008 and 2017 was poisoning from breathing in fumes, the report says.

A report recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found pool chemicals led to more than 4,500 emergency room visits each year between 2008 and 2017. 

More than a third of those preventable injuries were in children and teens. The most common diagnosis was poisoning from breathing in fumes from open containers.

Injuries from pool chemicals are completely preventable, the CDC says, but the number of injuries has not changed much in the past 15 years. 

If you are using pool chemicals, the CDC has some suggestions on how to stay safe:

  • Read and follow directions on pool chemicals
  • Wear safety equipment such as respirators or goggles when handling pool chemicals, and check product labels for directions on what to wear.
  • Keep pool chemicals out of reach of children, teens and animals
  • Never mix different pool chemicals with each other. The CDC says mixing chlorine and acid is especially dangerous.

Also, sweat, dirt, urine and feces react with the chlorine in the pool, creating chemicals that irritate the eyes and decreasing the amount of free chlorine available to kill germs. 

This means you should shower for at least a minute before you get into the pool and never pee or poop in the water. 

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