A Pennsylvania woman was airlifted to a hospital and a young child was injured after a pool chemical reaction occurred while chemicals were being mixed in a bucket, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The incident occurred on the morning of May 26 at a residence in rural Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, about 50 miles north of Harrisburg.
According to state police, emergency crews were dispatched around 8:55 a.m. to East Mountain Road following reports of chemical burn injuries. Investigators said a 76-year-old woman was mixing pool chemicals inside a five-gallon bucket when a reaction suddenly occurred.
Police said the reaction caused chemicals to splash onto both the woman and a 4-year-old boy who was standing nearby.
The woman suffered chemical burns and respiratory distress and was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for treatment. Authorities reported that she was in stable condition following the incident.
The child was transported to Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey. Police said the boy was treated and released shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Local fire companies responded to decontaminate the scene.
State police said their investigation determined that the injuries resulted from the chemical reaction that occurred while the pool chemicals were being mixed.
Authorities have not publicly identified the chemicals involved.
The incident occurred during peak pool-opening season across much of Pennsylvania, when homeowners are preparing pools for summer use and often handling larger quantities of pool chemicals.
While details remain limited, the case serves as a reminder that pool chemicals can react violently when incompatible products are combined. Authorities have not publicly identified the chemicals involved or provided additional details about the reaction. The incident also illustrates one reason many homeowners rely on trained pool professionals to handle and apply pool chemicals safely.
No additional information has been released, and the incident remains under investigation.
