In yesterday's post about pool basics I told you to be very careful with pool chemicals. Today I read this article in splash magazine, about an Australian man who was not properly informed on how to handle his pool shock. He is in serious condition in a Sydney hospital. I cannot stress enough how dangerous these chemicals can be. Mixing together the wrong chemicals can cause fire, explosions and poisonous gasses.
SAFETY TIPS FOR POOL CHEMICALS
Never mix chemicals
Never pour chemicals in same spot in pool without waiting at least on hour with pump running
Always have pump running when adding chemicals to pool
If premixing chemicals always add chemical to water never add water to chemical.
Never use a bucket, floater, or chlorinator with a different kind of chemical, even the slightest left behind
residue can cause big problems
Always follow the package directions
If unsure about the proper use ask consult a pool professional
Never store chemicals in your house
If storing pool chemicals in a small space such as a storage shed be aware of fumes when opening doors
Avoid storing acid, stabilized chlorine and non-stabilized chlorine together
BELOW IS A COPY OF THIS ARTICLE
Backyard pool chemical explosion puts Sydney man in hospital
by on January 28, 2014
Clinton Maynard in St George Hospital after the incident
man Clinton Maynard was hospitalised in a critical condition in
December following an accident mixing chlorine for his backyard swimming
pool.
He was preparing to correct the water of his aboveground
pool with a shock treatment, following advice from his local pool shop
after the pool had gone green.
On the advice of the retailer, he used two kilograms of stabilised granular chlorine and premixed it with water.
He used a bucket that was reserved only for mixing chlorine, and had never been used for other chemicals.
However, he was never told to put the water in first – either verbally by the pool shop, or on the chlorine packaging.
“The
pool had gone green and we went to the pool shop and were advised to do
a shock, add an algaecide and also a flocculent,” says Maynard.
“They
said we’d need to use two kilos of chlorine. The bucket was the same
one we always use for mixing chlorine, and the same mixing stick. We
never use the bucket for anything else and there was nothing else in it
at the time.”
His wife put the chlorine in the bucket and then went to put one of their children to bed.
“About
five minutes later I came and poured the water into the chlorine in the
bucket and started mixing it. Within about 30 seconds to 45 seconds
there was an explosion, and then a series of explosions.
“The
blast was very loud and luckily our neighbours were next door. They ran
over and hosed me off and got my clothes off me. They saved me from
burns and saved my eyesight. They called an ambulance and the paramedics
put a device on my eyes and washed each eyeball with ten litres of
water.”
Maynard was rushed to hospital in critical condition and five others were also injured.
“In
all, six people were taken to hospital. I was critical, but also my
neighbours, my wife, the fire-fighter who hosed me down and the
paramedic all had to go to hospital. That’s how big it was. Even the dog
had to go to the vet.”
Maynard later saw an ophthalmologist who
was surprised that he wasn’t blinded by the incident. In the end, his
eyesight was okay.
“But my lungs were damaged and that doesn’t
reveal itself immediately, because the chlorine fumes affect the lungs a
bit like a bruise. My lungs aren’t 100 per cent but there’s no
long-term damage. I still have a cough but it will come good in a couple
of months.
“I really want to get the message out there that these chemicals are dangerous and need to be handled with care.”
Maynard stresses that he takes full responsibility and I doesn’t blame anyone.
“But
people need to be told how to use it properly. There should be clear
instructions about putting the water in the bucket first, and you should
also get verbal advice from the pool shop at the time you buy the
chlorine, pointing out the instructions and letting you know it can be
very dangerous if it’s not done correctly.”
The fire brigade took
the bottle away and he can’t remember the exact brand of chlorine.
Therefore he can’t check to prove he read the instructions properly, but
from what he recalls, the instructions were pretty vague. He later
checked the instructions on some chlorine packaging in a supermarket
shelf, and says they didn’t have any warnings at all.
The fire
brigade did find some evidence of acid in the mix, but as stabilised
chlorine has a cyanuric acid component, it may be a result of that.
Maynard is a broadcaster for Sydney radio station 2UE, and has been using the airwaves to spread the message of safe handling of pool chemcials.
“I am very lucky to still have my eyesight and not to have permanent lung damage,” he says. “But others might not be so lucky.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POOL SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE
Rick the Pool Dude
To see the full article go to Splash Magazine
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