The power and danger of Chlorine and Chlorine Vapour (gas) cannot be over emphasised
The following "incident" closed an entire Leisure centre down after a "cup" off Chlorine was spilled! the gas it gave off was of course much stronger than the vapour that comes from swimming pool water, but the very fact that a swimming pool has that very characteristic "swimming pool" smell and makes your eyes sting so much and your throat sore should be taken as a health warning in its self. The vapour is still as poisonous even at those lower concentrations, but instead of a few minutes of being exposed to the cupful of Chlorine and its resultant vapour, you may well spend an hour or more breathing it in as you swim or even if you are just a spectator . But it's worse than that, much worse, because in this case your are also immersed in heavily Chlorinated water and from time to time you may even swallow some, children are especially at risk, so whenever possible the wise choice would be to avoid chlorinated pools and search for a pool using ozone or salt.
16th January 2008.
Chemical alert at Leeds leisure centre
Kippax Leisure Centre on Tuesday night
«
By Vicki Robinson
NINE children and an adult were taken to hospital after a chemical alert at a Leeds leisure centre.
Kippax Leisure Centre was evacuated after what is thought to be chlorine gas seeped into the swimming pool area of the building on Station Road.
The youngsters and adult were taken either to St Jame's Hospital or Pontefract General Infirmary as a "precautionary measure".
They were thought to have been suffering either from minor respiratory problems or skin irritations after coming into contact with the gas.
It is understood the incident was sparked when a cup of neat chlorine was accidentally knocked over. The liquid then became gas and seeped out into the swimming area.
Fire crews from Garforth and Castleford were called, along with police and health officers in specialist haz-mat suits.
They isolated the area where the leak had taken place and examined those affected.
Following the incident, at around 5pm on Tuesday, the centre was closed to the public for the rest of the evening.
People who arrived later for badminton games and other sports were turned away being told only that an "incident" had happened. The swimming pool area was locked and in darkness. Staff said they were unable to comment.
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council, which runs the centre, said in a statement: "At around 5pm Kippax Leisure Centre was closed following what is believed to have been a chemical release.
"Immediate action was taken to evacuate members of the public and staff from the affected areas.
"Emergency services attended the scene and a small number of people were taken to hospital as a precaution."
She said the centre was likely to reopen today, though the pool area would remain shut until at least lunchtime while investigators worked to find out how the chemical release had happened.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said those who inhaled the gas were thought to have suffered only minor complaints.
* The pool was due to re-open at 2pm on Wednesday.
Comments