TOO MUCH CHLORINE IN POOL LEAVES COMBAT CONTROLLERS COUGHING, VOMITING

  • Published
  • By Tim Barela
  • Torch Magazine
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Several combat control students were left coughing, vomiting and having difficulty breathing after training exercises in the Triangle Swimming Pool here the morning of April 16. Excessive amounts of chlorine in the pool proved to be the culprit.

The base fire department responded to the medical emergency. Fifteen of the students were transported to Keesler Medical Center for evaluation and treatment. All were released that same day in good condition, according to Virgil Mitchell, 81st Training Wing chief of safety.

"The pool was closed for the season, but the combat controllers had requested to use it for training," Mitchell said. "Civil engineering worked on the pool the night before, but accidentally left the chlorine on overnight. Realizing their mistake, they notified the combat control supervisor. But he didn't grasp the severity of the situation and decided to train there anyway."

Mitchell said additional procedures were implemented to ensure combat controller training is not conducted at the pools without an official validation that the conditions are safe for training.

The safety chief warned that pools over-treated with chlorine can cause serious health and safety issues: skin and eye irritation, coughing, vomiting and shortness of breath, to name a few.

"If treating your own swimming pool, follow instructions carefully and check the test results," Mitchell said. "If chlorine levels are too high, don't use it. If you're not sure, don't use it. It never hurts to get a professional to treat and test your pool. ... Better safe than sorry."