Factors associated with seeking emergency treatment following suspected chemical contamination of a leisure pool

A leisure pool was evacuated when children complained of breathing difficulties, cough, and eye irritation subsequently thought to be due to high chloramine levels. The duration of the suspected contamination before the evacuation was unknown: it was suggested that some subsequent attendances at accident and emergency (A&E) departments had been prompted by news reports of the incident. The extent and nature of symptoms, the cause of the incident, and the impact of media reporting were investigated with the help of a postal questionnaire. One hundred and thirty-seven people (all but six under 20 years of age) attended A&E departments after the incident, most commonly with sore eyes (79%), cough (76%), and sore throat (71%). The number of different symptoms was associated with the length of time spent at the pool, but not with being present at the time of the evacuation or with having heard about the incident on radio or television.