Everyone loves swimming pool season, but the chemicals that make pools safe to swim in also send thousands of people to the emergency room every year - and nearly half the victims are children. Use these tips and resources to help prevent chemical injuries and keep your pool area safe.

1. SAFETY TIP:
Using Swimming Pool / Spa Chemicals
Everyone loves swimming pool season, but the chemicals
that make pools safe to swim in also send thousands of
people to the emergency room every year - and nearly half
the victims are children.
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
Using swimming pool chemicals safely:
 Keep young children away when handling
chemicals
 Dress for safety by wearing appropriate safety
equipment (safety goggles, gloves, 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 the pool chemical to water; never add
water to a pool chemical because a violent (potentially explosive) reaction can
occur

2. Pool Chemical Safety Resources:
 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.
Get Social With Us: ComplianceSigns, Inc. - 56 S. Main Street, Chadwick, IL 61014
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