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Pool Chemical Injuries Lead to Over 4,500 Emergency Department Visits Each Year

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Pool chemicals kill germs in the water but can injure people if mishandled

Pool chemical injuries led to an estimated 4,535 U.S. emergency department visits annually during 2008-2017, according to a report published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Although injuries from pool chemicals are preventable, the number of serious injuries from these chemicals has not changed much in the last 15 years. The thousands of emergency department visits underscore the need to raise awareness about safely handling pool chemicals.

Inhaling chemicals causes the most common injury

CDC examined data on emergency department visits due to pool chemical injuries during 2015- 2017. The top diagnosis was poisoning due to breathing in chemical fumes, vapors, or gases—for example, when opening chlorine containers.

Additional findings:

  • Over one-third of these preventable injuries were in children or teens (36%)
  • Over half of pool chemical injuries occurred at a home (56%)
  • About two-thirds of pool chemical injuries occurred during the summer swim season (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day) (65%)

Safety starts with pool owners and operators

Pool chemicals, like chlorine, protect swimmers from the spread of germs and prevent outbreaks linked to pools and water playgrounds. If you own a pool or operate a public pool (for example, at a hotel, waterpark, or community center), take the following steps to prevent pool chemical injuries:

  • Read and follow directions on pool chemical product labels.
  • Wear safety equipment, such as respirators or googles, when handling pool chemicals. Check product labels for directions on what to wear.
  • Keep pool chemicals out of reach of children, teens, and animals (including pets).
  • Never mix different pool chemicals with each other. It is particularly dangerous to mix chlorine and acid.
  • If you operate a public pool, complete the operator training that includes pool chemical safety. Conduct pool chemical safety training for all staff that handle chemicals.

Michele Hlavsa, RN, MPH, CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program

“Summer is a great time to enjoy the pool with friends and loved ones. We all share the water we swim in and can help maintain the right mix of chemicals in the pool. Share the fun, not the pee, sweat, and dirt.”

Swimmers should keep pee, sweat, and dirt out of the pool

When pee, poop, sweat, and dirt from our bodies get into the pool water, they react with chlorine. This reaction decreases the amount of free chlorine available to kill germs and creates chemicals that make eyes red and itchy.

Swimmers and parents of young swimmers can help keep the mix of chemicals in the water healthy and safe by taking a few simple, effective steps:

  • Shower for at least 1 minute before you get into the water. This will remove most of the dirt or anything else on your body.
  • Never pee or poop in the water.
  • Take kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers every hour. Change diapers in a bathroom or diaper changing area.

Healthy and Safe Swimming Week

Healthy and Safe Swimming Week begins on May 20. For more information on healthy and safe swimming tips, visit www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.

Sunshine Law Policy

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Cooper County Public Health Center

17040 Klinton Dr. Boonville, MO 65233

 

Policy Statement                                                                                                Administrative Policy

Section 3                                            Sunshine Law Policy                                Issued 3/18/2019

3.7                                                                                                                         Page 1 of 1            

 

 

The Cooper County Public Health Center desires to conduct its business in a public fashion. We recognize that records of the Cooper County Public Health Center are records that belong to the citizens, and as a general matter should be available as a matter of course. However, there are occasionally reasons that some meetings and some records need to be closed to the public.

Accordingly, the Cooper County Public Health Center adopts the following policy in accordance with Section 610.028, RSMo:

  1. The Cooper County Public Health Center Administrator shall be and is hereby appointed custodian of records of the Cooper County Public Health Center, and is located at:17040 Klinton Dr. Boonville, Missouri. Sunshine Requests may be sent to: Cooper County Public Health Center 17040 Klinton Dr. Boonville, MO 65233.
  2. The custodian shall respond to all requests for access to or copies of a public record within the time period provided by statute, except that the period for production may exceed the statutory period for reasonable cause.
  3. Fees to be charged for access to or furnishing copies of records shall be:
  4. 10 cents per page for paper copies 9 x 14 or smaller.
  5. $ 21.51 per hour for duplicating time.
  6. Research time and other materials shall be charged at actual costs.
  7. Digital storage devices shall be accepted by the Cooper County Public Health Center if they are in the original sealed manufacture packaging only.

 

 

The Cooper County Public Health Center requires that any estimated fees in response to requests for documents be paid prior to providing documents to the requestor in accordance with section 610.026.2 RSMo. Any additional costs/fees shall be charged upon delivery of the documents.

  1. Except to the extent that disclosure is otherwise required by law, the Cooper County Public Health Center hereby closes all records and votes related to each category set forth in Section 610.021, RSMo.
  2. Original public records of the Health Center should not be removed from the premises. Any documents, posters, books or other items not easily copied on office copier shall be available for review in the office or copies may be provided with fees charged for the actual cost of producing copies.

 

 

Missouri WIC Income Guidelines

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Missouri WIC Income Guidelines

May 6, 2019

Guidelines reflect gross (pre-tax) income.

 

Family Size

Annual

Monthly

Twice-

Monthly

Bi-Weekly

Weekly

1

$23,107

$1,926

$963

$889

$445

2

$31,284

$2,607

$1,304

$1,204

$602

3

$39,461

$3,289

$1,645

$1,518

$759

4

$47,638

$3,970

$1,985

$1,833

$917

5

$55,815

$4,652

$2,326

$2,147

$1,074

6

$63,992

$5,333

$2,667

$2,462

$1,231

7

$72,169

$6,015

$3,008

$2,776

$1,388

8

$80,346

$6,696

$3,348

$3,091

$1,546

9

$88,523 

$7,377 

$3,689 

$3,405 

$1,703

10

$96,700  

$8,059 

$4,030 

$3,720 

$1,860

11

$104,877 

$8,740 

$4,370

$4,034 

$2,017

12

$113,054 

$9,422 

$4,711 

$4,349 

$2,175

13

$121,231 

$10,103 

$5,052 

$4,663 

$2,332

14

$129,408 

$10,784 

$5,392 

$4,978 

$2,489

15

$137,585 

$11,466 

$5,733 

$5,292 

$2,646

16

$145,762 

$12,147 

$6,074 

$5,607 

$2,804

Each additional family member

Plus $8,177

Plus  $682

Plus  $341

Plus  $315

Plus  $158

If a pregnant woman does not meet these guidelines, then family size may be increased by the number of fetuses in utero, if the mother permits. Income guidelines are based on 185% of poverty level.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.                                         

#909 (05/19)

 

 

Conagra Brands, Inc. Recalls Chicken Pad Thai and Chicken Fried Rice Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

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WASHINGTON, May 4, 2019 – Conagra Brands, Inc., a Russellville, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,094,186 pounds of frozen entrees due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Chicken Pad Thai and Chicken Fried Rice are frozen, heat treated, not fully cooked and not shelf stable. They were produced on various dates between Oct. 1, 2018 and April 11, 2019, with “Best By” dates of Sept. 26, 2019 through April 5, 2020. The chart contains a list of the products subject to recall.[View Labels (PDF only)]

The products subject to this recall bear establishment number “EST. P-115,” which appears on the panel above the nutritional statement as “P115” along with the best by date. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and impacts only the P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand products listed. It does not include any product sold at P.F. Chang’s restaurants.

The problem was discovered when Conagra Brands, Inc. conducted a routine label verification check and determined that the product did not declare milk on the label.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms are notifying their customers of the recall and that actions are being taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact 1-800-860-3498. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Kristine Mulford, Manager of Communications at Conagra Brands, Inc. at Kristine.Mulford@conagra.com or at (312) 549-5522.