Chlorine Exposure at YJCC Sends 15 to Hospital

Twelve children and three adults were hospitalized for exposure to high levels of chlorine at the Bergen County YJCC on Pascack Road Tuesday afternoon, Washington Township Police Chief Randy Ciocco said in a press release.

Police received a call about the incident at about 3:19 p.m. Emergency responders evacuated the building and treated all 15 people at the scene before driving them to various area hospitals. 

The incident occurred exclusively in the facility's indoor pool area, but the whole building was evacuated and will remain closed pending inspection from Township Police, according to Ciocco.

Township Police and firefighters were joined by Bergen County and Paramus Haz Mat teams, EMTs from Hillsdale, Ridgewood, Tri-Boro and Closter and paramedics from HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley and the Valley Hospital of Ridgewood.

"Through fluid communication, cooperation and common goals shared between the Township of Washington Police and Fire Department and all the  emergency services, emergencies such as this one are quickly tackled through a  professional and diligent response," Ciocco said.