Dozens Taken To Hospital After Possible Gas Leak At Loveland School
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - Authorities in Loveland say 52 students and teachers had to been taken to hospitals to be checked out after feeling ill at an elementary school. They have all recovered and since been released from the hospital.
Several students reported feeling nauseous and dizzy Tuesday at Winona Elementary School.
Loveland officials say no severe symptoms have been reported.
Firefighters have searched the school but haven't found anything that could have caused people to feel sick. The initial call they received said it was possible carbon monoxide poisoning, but no carbon monoxide was detected.
"We don't know what caused this event. With doors being opened, windows being opened, it could have ventilated this building. School district staff is inspecting all the HVAC systems to confirm that they're operating properly," Merlin Green with Loveland fire said.
Thompson School District spokeswoman Melissa Adams says the school was evacuated and classes canceled for the day. Students not taken to hospitals were taken to Marasol Senior Center, a predetermined evacuation point.
The kindergarten to fifth-grade school has about 450 students.
Winona Elementary School is scheduled to reopen for normal operation Wednesday. Parents have been notified. Early Wednesday morning prior to reopening, the building will be re-inspected, including air sampling to ensure the safety of all its occupants.
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
