Students were hastily expelled from a high school in Weston, Florida, after several employees were hospitalized with a mysterious illness following a carbon monoxide leak in the cafeteria.
Cypress Bay High School was evacuated Friday morning after four workers and one firefighter began inexplicably experiencing headaches and nausea.
According to a post on the City of Weston’s X.com website, three people experienced “dizziness at the cafeteria.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are dizziness, headache, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
Students were hastily expelled from a high school in Weston, Florida, after several employees were hospitalized with a mysterious illness following a carbon monoxide leak in the cafeteria.
Cypress Bay High School was evacuated Friday morning after four workers and one firefighter began inexplicably experiencing headaches and nausea.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that is extremely lethal.
All five individuals were later taken to the Cleveland Clinic, where they were reported to be in stable condition, according to Fire Department spokesman Battalion Chief Michael Kane, who spoke with the The Miami Herald.
At around 10:30 a.m., firefighters arrived at the school, which is at 18600 Vista Park Blvd, and quickly detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
At that time, the City of Weston wrote on X.com: ‘Crews detected high levels of carbon monoxide and all gas supply to the building has been shut off. The cafeteria building is being evacuated.’
BSO and Fire Department hazardous materials teams were subsequently dispatched to the scene, where they secured a propane tank that supplies the school.
Although the propane tank seems a plausible culprit, Chief Kane said the source of the leak is still under investigation.
Once they completed this, the carbon monoxide levels returned to normal.
Although the propane tank seems a plausible culprit, Chief Kane said the source of the leak is still under investigation.
In an update on the situation, WestonFL Alert wrote on X.com: ‘Two HazMat teams have begun ventilating the building and carbon monoxide levels are now low.’
They added: “Additional adult patients are being evaluated and additional EMS units have been called.”
The school initially decided to remain open and urged parents to “not come to school.”
However, at this time, the school remained open and the city urged parents to “not come to the school to pick up their children at this time to allow units easy access in and out of the school.”
However, about an hour later, the school ordered the evacuation of the premises.
At noon, students were dismissed and the entire campus was evacuated “out of an abundance of caution,” Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn said.
Dr. Hepburn added:
“Our teams are assessing that leak to find and rectify it so we can return to normal operations on Monday.”
According to Broward County Public School officials, a total of eight people were affected by the leak.
According to Broward County Public School officials, a total of eight people were affected by the leak.
Following the incident, parents of the students expressed their anxiety as well as frustration with the school.
“We received a recorded message from the principal saying there was a gas leak in the cafeteria,” Danica Velickovich said. CBS.
“Then they told us to pick up our children at 12. I was shocked because two of the recordings said they were safe.”
“I heard there was a gas leak and people had been taken to the hospital,” said Kristin Smith. “I was worried about my children and the dangers and their exposure.”
At noon, the students were dismissed from school.
Students expressed their fear after the terrible incident.
“I was scared. This is something very serious,” said Isabel Santa Cruz. CBS.
“When I heard they were sending people to the hospital, I got stressed,” she continued.
Another student put it bluntly: “There was a gas leak and we were told we couldn’t leave our classroom.”