3 children hospitalized after eating gummies at North Side Chicago elementary school
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Three children at a Rogers Park neighborhood elementary school were taken to a hospital Tuesday after they ate gummies containing an unknown drug.
Some parents of students at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School, 6700 N. Greenview Ave., said they wanted more communication from the school on what happened.
First responders were called to the school—which is part of the Chicago Public Schools—for "multiple overdoses" just two hours before dismissal.
"I've never been so scared in my life," said Kelly Kee, the mother of a 6-year-old girl who attends the school. "I ran out of my Uber. I literally ran out of my Uber."
Kee was in a panic trying to get her daughter after hearing about an overdose at the school.
"I was terrified because I didn't know what was going on. There's so many things circulating around the internet, and I'm terrified," Kee said. "I didn't get a call from the school, from the school at all."
In a letter to parents, Kilmer Principal Natalie Rodriguez described the items youngsters as "an unknown substance in the form of gummy edibles." Rodriguez's letter did not specify what the gummy edibles contained, but pointed out that they often contain marijuana or "other prohibited substances."
All three children were taken to Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, the Fire Department said. They are expected to be fine.
The school only notified the parents of the three children.
"I don't even know how this happened," Kee said. "How did they let something like this happen?"
Jalissa Stafford came to pick up her daughter, and said it was not OK with her that the school failed to notify all parents before 4 p.m. dismissal.
"I think that's really a negative on their part," she said. "It would have been nice to have known something as you're picking up your child."
In the letter Rodriguez advised that parents should make a point of talking to their kids about the health risks of gummies—and not accepting food from others if it's not known where it came from.
"I think I will talk to her about just making sure you don't accept anything from someone that's already opened," said Stafford. "I know in her class they don't allow candy in the classroom, so I think that's a really good positive."
Stafford and Kee both breathed a sigh of relief knowing their children were OK—while offering support to the parents who had to go to the hospital with their children.
"I just hope whoever's child is, you know, in the hospital, or whatever is going on, I pray that they get better," Kee said.
Rodriguez's complete letter read as follows:
"Safety is always my top priority, which is why I am writing to notify you of an incident that occurred during today's school day. This afternoon, we were made aware that some members of our school community had ingested an unknown substance in the form of gummy edibles. Out of an abundance of caution, notifications were made to ensure these individuals received medical attention. Everyone is safe. The parents of the impacted community members and the CPS Office of Safety and Security have been notified, and while I cannot provide further details for privacy reasons, I can share that we will be handling this matter in accordance with CPS policies.
"We believe the impacted community members may have ingested the unknown substance in the form of 'edibles,' which are food or drinks that are made with cannabis or other prohibited substances. Prohibited substances of any kind are not allowed at our school, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the health risks associated with consuming edibles and to remind them not to accept food if they do not know where it came from.
"Thank you for your support and partnership as we continue striving to create a healthy and positive learning environment at our school. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly."
