When a heatwave comes along people need to cool down. One of the most popular is to install an affordable above ground swimming pool in the back garden.

But a new study, published by the American Centre for Disease Control, has highlighted the dangers of swimming pool chemicals. Swimming pool chemicals are responsible for as many as 5,200 emergency room visits each year and these are all preventable.

The report indicates a number of common sources of injury including improper handling, inhalation of fumes, chemicals being splashed into the eyes and attempts to pre-dissolve the chemicals. If people were adequately aware of the dangers and precautions all of these injuries could be avoided.

Pool water treatment chemicals are used to keep pool water safe and germ free. If left untreated swimming pool water will quickly become unhealthy for humans to use.

Swimming pool owners need to ensure that they are fully aware of how pool chemicals should be handled, how they should be applied to the pool water, how to test the pool water in order make certain it is safe for bathing and, importantly, how to store pool chemicals safely.

Always store swimming pool chemicals in a clean, cool, dry and well ventillated area. They should be kept out of reach of children and animals and they must always be kept separate from other containers of water treatment chemicals.

Goggles and rubber gloves are recommended when handling chemicals. After handling chemicals it is important to wash the hands thoroughly and it should be remembered that chemicals should be added to water and not the other way around. Never exceed the stated dosage and make certain that measuring containers are kept clean and dry. Another, often overlooked, safety requirement is that old chemicals should never be mixed with new, even if they are the same type.

If you are a new swimming pool owner take some advice from your swimming pool supplier and if you are uncertain ask them to show you how to safely treat your swimming pool water.

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 9:48 pm and is filed under swimming pools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.