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7 Taunton students brought to hospital after hazmat incident at school
"We are extremely thankful that no one was seriously injured as a result of this incident.”
Several students in Taunton were taken to the hospital on Monday after a strong odor was detected in a classroom and they reported feeling dizzy and lightheaded, prompting a hazmat response from authorities.
Taunton fire and school officials said in a statement that the fire department responded to Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School around 1:48 p.m. for the incident in a standalone building containing programs for biotechnology, dental, and health.
According to officials, after students reported a strong odor in the classroom, the teacher found no active chemical spill or leak and evacuated the room before calling 911.
Officials said the state’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division team responded to the scene along with the Taunton Fire Department.
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The 16 students and teacher moved into an adjacent building where they were evaluated by first responders for “minor” symptoms, including dizziness and lightheadedness, officials said. Seven students were taken to an area hospital for further evaluation, while their remaining classmates were picked up by parents and guardians.
According to the Taunton Daily Gazette, the incident took place in a chemistry class.
“During the investigation, firefighters did not detect any unusual readings in the building, and the Taunton Board of Health approved the building’s reopening,” officials said.
Classes are set to resume on Tuesday, but officials said an investigation into the cause of the strong odor remains ongoing.
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“We are extremely thankful that no one was seriously injured as a result of this incident,” Alexandre Magalhaes, superintendent-director, of Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, said in a statement. “I would like to commend the teacher who quickly removed the students from the classroom to safety. We are grateful to the Taunton Fire Department for their prompt response.”
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