Two kids rushed to hospital after possible chemical exposure at NC pool, officials say
Two children were rushed to the hospital after a possible chemical exposure at a North Carolina swimming pool, officials said.
An adult also received medical care after a “caller reported people having difficulty breathing and difficulty speaking between breaths” on Saturday, June 18, according to the Asheville Fire Department.
At about 1:40 p.m., firefighters in the mountain tourist town arrived at the scene of the potential “hazardous materials incident.” While at a pool on Resort Drive, crews started to treat eight patients and worked on decontamination efforts, officials said.
Three of the patients were taken “to the hospital for further evaluation,” a fire department spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.
When reached for comment, an athletic club listed at the same address as the emergency response said it prioritizes the health and safety of its workers and visitors.
“We experienced an isolated incident on Saturday afternoon which unfortunately affected some of our swimmers,” Asheville Racquet Club told McClatchy News in an emailed statement. “After an initial investigation in collaboration with internal and external resources, we have implemented measures to ensure that this type of incident can not happen again.”
The club, which WLOS reported still had its pool closed as of June 20, said its managers recognize “the seriousness of this event and are continuing to work to meet our goal of providing the safest pool experiences in Asheville.”
After the incident, firefighters said they “ventilated the pool area and turned it over to Heath and Human Services. The reactions were believed to be caused due to muriatic acid and chlorine.”
Muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, is found in household products and helps maintain the pH balance in pools, according to officials in New Jersey and California. Mixing the acid with other substances can lead to breathing problems, and ingesting it can “cause severe corrosive injury to the lips, mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Two kids rushed to hospital after possible chemical exposure at NC pool, officials say."
