Woman airlifted after pool chemical accident injures child in Schuylkill County

A woman was seriously injured and a young child was hurt Tuesday morning after a chemical reaction involving pool chemicals at a home in Schuylkill County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Troopers said emergency crews were dispatched around 8:55 a.m. to a residence in the 400 block of East Mountain Road in Hegins Township for reports of multiple chemical burn injuries. Investigators said a 76-year-old woman was mixing pool chemicals inside a five-gallon bucket when a reaction suddenly occurred. According to police, the chemicals splashed onto 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 said she was listed in stable condition. The child was transported to Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey. Police said the boy was treated and discharged shortly after arriving at the hospital. Following the incident, local fire companies responded to decontaminate the scene. State police said the investigation determined the injuries were caused by the chemical reaction that occurred while the pool chemicals were being mixed. FOX56 news gathering partner Skook News contributed to this report