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Swimming pool chemicals are necessary for a healthy pool, but they must be handled with care. It is estimated that there are over 5000 emergency room visits per year in the US that are the result of accidents involving pool chemicals. Having a swimming pool is great fun, but it comes with a serious responsibility to put safety first and handle chemicals safely. Here are some tips for doing that.
First of all, follow all safety recommendations on the pool chemical package every time you use them. This means using rubber gloves and eye protection when indicated. It is all too easy to splash some of the chemical on your skin or into your eyes when adding it to the pool. Be sure to use the pool products only as directed. Too much chlorine or otherwise out of balance chemicals in your swimming pool can cause respiratory problems and can burn swimmers' eyes. Recent studies indicate that pool chemicals may be associated with children having asthma, and many of the previously mentioned emergency room visits involve breathing distress.
Proper storage of swimming pools chemicals is another area of concern. The containers should give directions about safe storage, but here are some basic facts. The chemicals need first of all to be stored safely away from children. Normally it is good organization to store things with similar functions together, but you should not store pool chemicals and other pool accessories, like floaties and other toys, together. If you do, the children will be drawn to that cabinet. Store the toys and fun things in a totally different area.
Swimming pool chemicals need to be stored dry, and not mixed together. Each individual type of pool chemical needs to have its own separate scoop or spoon so that you don't inadvertently mix them. When wrongly mixed, they can give off noxious fumes or cause a fire. If they cause a fire, use water to put it out. The chemicals in fire extinguishers are not appropriate for the type of fire you might get from pool chemicals.
Chemicals also need to be stored away from heat sources including direct sunlight. The proper storage area should have low humidity, no direct sunlight, and a temperature that never gets above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep pool chemicals stored separately from other reactive or flammable home chemicals, like fertilizers, cleaning formulas, or paints.
It should seem like common sense, but when handling swimming pool chemicals, do not smoke or eat. After any contact with the chemicals, be sure to wash your hands promptly and thoroughly. Finally, if you should happen to have leftover pool chemicals to get rid of, take them to a hazardous waste disposal facility.
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