1.2.4

Pool Chemical-Related Injuries

Code

Pool chemical-related injuries occur regularly and can be prevented if pool chemicals are stored and used as recommended.

Annex

For 2007-2008, 32 POOL chemical-associated health events that occurred in a public or residential setting were reported to CDC by Maryland and Michigan. These events resulted in 48 cases of illness or injury; 26 (81.3%) events could be attributed at least partially to chemical handling errors (e.g., mixing incompatible chemicals). ATSDR's Hazardous Substance Emergency Events Surveillance System (HSEESS) received 92 reports of hazardous substance events that occurred at AQUATIC FACILITIES. More than half of these events (55 [59.8%]) involved injured persons; the most frequently reported primary contributing factor was human error.24 Estimates based on CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data indicate that 4,876 (95% confidence interval: 2,821--6,930) emergency department (ED) visits attributable to POOL chemical--associated injuries occurred in 2012; almost half of the patients were <18 years old.25

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