RSOE EDIS - HAZMAT in USA on Wednesday, 12 October, 2011 at 03:05 (03:05 AM) UTC. EDIS CODE: HZ-20111012-32644-USA
HAZMAT in USA on Wednesday, 12 October, 2011 |
| Base data |
| EDIS Number: | HZ-20111012-32644-USA |
| Event type: | HAZMAT |
| Date/Time: | Wednesday, 12 October, 2011 at 03:05 (03:05 AM) UTC |
| Last update: | --- |
| Cause of event: | |
| Damage level: | Moderate |
| Geographic information |
| Continent: | North-America |
| Country: | USA |
| County / State: | State of Ohio |
| Area: | Edgewood Middle School, Busenbark Road |
| City: | Trenton |
| Coordinate: | N 39° 28.523, W 84° 29.255 |
| Number of affected people / Humanities loss |
| Foreign people: | Affected is unknown. |
| Dead person(s): | --- |
| Injured person(s): | 47 |
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Event Description
HAZMAT in USA on Wednesday, 12 October, 2011 |
| Description |
An emergency evacuation of Edgewood Middle School Tuesday morning caused more than a few tense moments for school officials, emergency responders and nearly 50 sickened students. Students were evacuated outside, but the source of the problem turned out to be coming from there, on a high school athletic field that had been sprayed with weed killer two hours earlier. While students were not on that field, what began as breathing problems and headaches for 11 students eventually spread to 47 students. It created tense moments for emergency workers who scrambled to find the source while tending to the sick. By the time six students were sent to hospitals and 41 more were evaluated, a crew that suited up in hazmat gear and sophisticated testing equipment pinpointed the trouble. That’s when the chaos at the Busenbark Road campus took yet another turn. Emergency workers at first thought, mistakenly, that some of the students had been evacuated onto the tainted fields and would have to be decontaminated. “That’s when we thought we’d have to strip everybody’s clothes off and the whole nine yards,” said Jeff Galloway, director of the Butler County Emergency Management Agency.
Emergency and hazmat crews were called in shortly after 10 a.m. “The chemical is an irritant by inhalation,” said Galloway. “There was a situation here, but not a life threatening situation.” He said tests were performed inside the school and it was found to be clear of any residue. The herbicide that was identified has the trade name Momentum, which kills weeds and clover, but not grass. It is considered “slightly toxic with corneal involvement or irritation and moderate skin irritation,” according to warning labels. Galloway suggested that parents wash their children’s clothes, have them shower and send them outside to breathe clean air the rest of the day. For nearly four hours, firefighters from St. Clair Township, Hamilton and other nearby departments examined the 47 sick students to determine who needed to go to the hospital. “Our biggest concern was when we got here we didn’t realize that the problem was outside,” St. Clair Township Fire Chief Terry White said. Parents began arriving after hearing news reports of the evacuation. Some expressed concern. Others were in tears. But most were calm, said Butler County Sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Greer. School spokesman John Thomas initially had downplayed the situation to media as the hazmat team and other emergency crews were arriving on the scene. He said a couple students in one classroom who first complained of the odor and began coughing were sent to a district nurse. Teachers didn’t smell anything, he said. Even so, school officials decided to evacuate the room. Emergency management officials expanded the evacuation to the entire wing as children in other classrooms fell sick. Eventually the entire school was cleared.
Ryan Lockard, a parent from Madison Township, dashed to the school to pick up his 11-year-old daughter who is in the seventh grade. The middle school holds grades 5 through 8. “It was scary at first but it seems like they handled it ok,” he said. Daughter Abbi Lockard was among the students evacuated to the front of the school. “It was all pretty calm,” she said. Fifth and sixth graders were evacuated first to the front of the school, followed by the rest of the building 30 minutes later, she said. The older students were sent to the adjacent high school campus. The middle school will reopen as usual on Wednesday. |
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011
- Report on the situation at Edgewood Middle School today
- Tuesday, October 11, 2011
First and foremost the safety of all students and staff was the most important thing in all the decisions. As mentioned in previous communication we were informed this morning that some students said they smelled an odor and they were coughing and not feeling well. The decision was made to contact the local fire department, which is common in situations like this. From there the first responders called others to the sight; police, ambulatory services and hazard material experts. When schools are involved it is important to take all precautionary procedures to insure the safety of all. Upon arrival, those in charge advised that we evacuate the building. At first just the 5th and 6th grade wing where the odor was determined to be, and later the rest of the building. Upon evacuation we followed the District Safety and Security plan which is to go to the high school gymnasium and auditorium. Around 12:00 pm the staff in charged was informed that the baseball and softball field, approximately 150 yards from the middle school, received a lawn care treatment this morning around 8:30 am. The treatment was a “weed and feed” application that is applied in the fall. The product that was applied is called LESCO Momentum. This product is used often for treatment of lawns, ball fields, etc. On a data sheet report under hazards identification it states the product has low inhalation toxicity and that inhalation of the product MAY aggravate existing chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis. Skin contact may aggravate existing skin disease. This was determined to be a possible cause. No students came in contact; however it is possible that the odor from the chemical reached the building. If your child is experiencing any the above problems or is coughing and or wheezing excessively, it is suggested to contact your physician. All totaled, approximately 30 students were looked at by the school nurse and the EMT’s and six chose to receive medical treatment at the hospital. Around 1:30 pm, after an extensive check of the building, we received an all clear for re-entry by staff and students by the first responders. All students were brought back and school and extra-curricular activities continued for the day. School will be in session tomorrow. |
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