More than a dozen children who had been swimming at the Dolphin Club in Troy, Ohio, were taken to area hospitals as a precautionary measure after they were exposed to excessive pool chemicals.

According to reports, a total of 23 children, ages 8-16, were having trouble breathing and feeling nauseated while they were participating in swim team practice on the morning of June 19. Children also complained of skin irritation, sore throats, coughing, and irritation of the nose and throat.

Troy Fire Department Assistant Chief Wade Dexter said that all but one of the children had been released as of approximately 4 p.m the same day.

According to Dexter and Bill Frey, the Miami County EMA hazmat director, while pool workers were backwashing the system, the chemical dispenser unit was continuing to push out chemicals without flowing water.

A large amount of chlorine and acid were dispersed into the water when the pumps were turned back on. But officials said the condition wasn’t observed before the children entered the pool. The chemical dispenser was old, which led to the malfunction in machinery.

“It was just for lack of a better term, just old-age equipment,” Frey said. “(And) they had already discussed, ‘We need to look into, in a couple of years (replacing) all of this and updating everything.’ They knew it was coming; it just happened before they had expected it.”

Miami County officials said Dolphin Swim Club has since replaced its chemical dispenser and has been approved by public health officials to resume business as normal.

Photo Credit: Dolphincluboftroy.com