emergencies
21 children injured by chlorine gas in swimming pool
Teachers and the lifeguards noticed a pungent odor and then alerted the rescue services (symbol image). photo
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Respiratory tract irritation, severe coughing and watery eyes – chlorine gas escaped during maintenance work. The fire brigade was at the scene with several units.
The escape of chlorine gas in a swimming pool in Bergheim near Cologne injured 21 children and three adults on Tuesday. All of the children were taken to nearby children’s hospitals, the fire department said. The injuries are respiratory irritation, severe coughing and watery eyes, said a fire department spokesman. A police spokesman said: “We hope that the children will be returned to their parents as soon as possible after the examination.” The three adults, all teachers, were treated by emergency doctors and the rescue service on site.
According to the fire brigade, a “small amount of chlorine gas” escaped for an unknown reason. Whether maintenance work is related to the exit is still being determined, it said in the evening. The teachers and the lifeguards noticed a pungent odor and immediately evacuated the children from the affected area and alerted the rescue workers. The fire brigade then drove to the scene with several units.
Criminal police officers secured evidence on site, took air and water samples and questioned the employees of a specialist company for swimming pool technology who are said to have carried out the maintenance work. “The swimming pool is confiscated at the moment,” said the police spokesman. There was never any danger to residents and passers-by.