OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. -- A Cleveland family of nine was recovering Thursday after they became ill from chlorine fumes at an Ohio County hotel.

The incident happened around 9 p.m. at the Comfort Inn off the Dallas Pike Exit. Hotel officials said the chlorine exposure was caused by tablets used to sanitize the water. The pool was covered all day, they said, so the chlorine didn't have enough time to dissipate.

When the cover was lifted, the family was immediately exposed to the fumes. One of the victims said the family knew something was wrong when their healthy 5-year-old began vomiting in the pool area.

"You had to worry about transporting patients, dealing with the chemical leak and also dealing with any other residents of the hotel who may have been evacuated. Luckily, last night, the chlorine was contained to just the pool area," said Lou Vargo, Ohio County Emergency Management Agency director.

The family had come to Wheeling to see the Oglebay's Festival of Lights. They said they wanted to enjoy a fun night, relaxing together, swimming in the indoor pool at their hotel, but their fun holiday getaway turned into a dangerous situation within minutes.

The victims were treated for eye and nose irritation, headaches, minor shortness of breath and vomiting. The youngest patient was 3 1/2 years old.

"The biggest treatment for any gas is to remove the person from that area. Once they were removed from the area, most of the symptoms resolved on their own," Vargo said.

Officials said the chlorine levels in the pool were at a normal level at 2.0, right where they should be for the winter time.

"The Comfort Inn swimming pool is very safe. It was just an accidental chlorine release that, unfortunately, there were nine people in the area where the gas was released," Vargo said.

As of noon Thursday, the family said they were all doing well and feeling fine.

This was the second time in a few days emergency crews responded to a chemical leak at the hotel. On Sunday, three people were sent to the hospital for carbon monoxide exposure. Officials said the victims became ill when construction workers left heaters running in a nearby construction area.

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