With the summer months around the corner, many pool owners in the Atlanta area are starting to prepare to engage in their annual ritual of opening their pool. In many cases, getting a pool ready for use involves the use of several highly concentrated chemicals that are necessary to ensure sanitary conditions. While these chemicals keep pool users healthy and safe when used correctly, they also have the potential of causing serious injuries when they are not. In addition, even storing these chemicals in an unsecured or inappropriate location can result in serious injury. In many cases, the people who are injured by negligently handled pool chemicals are entitled to significant compensation, so victims should be certain to discuss their options with an experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Pool chemicals can cause a variety of injuries
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), injuries caused by pool chemicals resulted in almost 5,000 emergency room visits in 2012. In addition, almost 50 percent of these injuries were in children and teenagers and in excess of one-third happened at home. Pool chemicals can cause a wide range of injuries, including skin injuries, eye injuries, and respiratory problems. Fortunately, there are certain steps that pool owners can take to reduce the risk of their pool chemicals causing a serious injury, according to the CDC. These include the following:
Always make sure to read the directions on pool chemical product labels
Wear appropriate safety equipment when handling pool chemicals
Make sure you store pool chemicals in a secure area to protect children and animals from injury
Do not handle pool chemicals when young children are present
Always add pool chemicals to water, never water to pool chemicals
Only pre-dissolve pool chemicals when directed to by the labeling on the product
Never mix pool chemicals with one another
When pool chemical injuries occur, they can often leave victims with significant medical expenses and may have a significant impact on their quality of life for an extended period of time. As a result, anyone who has been injured by pool chemicals should seek immediate medical attention. In addition to ensuring that your injuries are properly treated, undergoing a physical examination will also result in the creation of an official record connecting your injuries to your accident, which could serve as an important piece of evidence should your case become contested.
Contact an Atlanta personal injury today to schedule a free case review
Injuries caused by pool chemicals can leave victims with serious medical problems. If your exposure to these harmful chemicals was the result of someone else’s negligence, you need to know where to turn for help. The Atlanta personal injury lawyers of Goldstein Hayes & Lina are dedicated to helping dedicated to protecting the legal rights of individuals who have been injured in preventable accidents. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, please call our office today at (877) 425-6070.