8 kids taken to hospital after pool chlorine malfunction in Johns Creek
More than a dozen people, including eight children, have been taken to a hospital after a pool chlorine malfunction in Johns Creek Tuesday night, police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News.
The Johns Creek Fire Department said a chlorine mixer malfunctioned at a Life Time Fitness pool, causing kids to vomit and have trouble breathing, Channel 2 reported.
BREAKING: #JohnsCreek officials confirm more than a dozen people became ill at a Lifetime fitness pool, were taken to the hospital. We have a crew enroute now.
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) August 15, 2018
The news station reported 28 kids, who were there for a swim meet, were near the pool when it began to malfunction.
Eight of the kids, who were all between 10 to 12 years old, fell in the pool and had to be taken to area hospitals, including five who were taken to Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Channel 2 reported. The hospital said those five kids are in stable condition. The rest of the children were treated at the scene by first responders.
Update: Fire department says chlorine mixer malfunctioned at pool, caused kids to vomit, have trouble breathing. 28 kids were in the pool. 8 taken to area hospitals. Rest treated on scene. @RikkiKlausWSB and @NefertitiWSB will have latest at 11! https://t.co/lUyVcT4xeH
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) August 15, 2018
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website said the symptoms of chlorine exposure include blurred vision, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting and burning pain and blisters on the skin if exposed to gas.
Channel 2 reported an operations employee said the kids got sick at an outdoor pool, which is now closed.
We just went inside Lifetime Fitness. An operations employee says the outdoor pool, where kids got sick, is now closed. She says the ops manager is coming to the gym at 10p. We hope to talk with her. pic.twitter.com/tXc7VPIS9s
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 15, 2018
The Life Time fitness manager and its employees would not respond to the news station’s requests for comment on the incident.
#JohnsCreek Lifetime Fitness employee just locked doors. pic.twitter.com/4BtSqRjHn9
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 15, 2018
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About the Author
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
