A carbon monoxide scare at a Florida school has resulted in over 20 students being taken to the hospital as a precaution. The incident occurred at Cypress Junction Montessori’s middle school building in Winter Haven, Florida, on Friday morning.
According to the Winter Haven Fire Department, carbon monoxide detectors inside the school went off, prompting the evacuation of the entire building. While there was no actual gas leak detected within the school, the detectors had picked up on something outside, quite a distance from the middle school.
As a precautionary measure, 11 students were transported to the hospital by ambulance, while another 11 were taken by school bus. All the students were examined by medical professionals at the scene, and those who were taken for further treatment either had pre-existing medical conditions or were experiencing symptoms that were distressing to them.
The fire department stated that ventilators were placed inside the school, and the air quality was deemed “all good” after the incident. The principal of Cypress Junction Montessori, Dr. Kris Newman-Lake, has been in constant communication with parents, keeping them updated on the situation as it unfolded.
“The principal has been emailing the parents all day, kind of keeping us up to date as they can, you know, as things develop. But yeah, it’s never a good day when you see your kid’s school on the news with fire trucks and police cars everywhere,” said Phillip Brooks, the father of two students at the elementary school building.
While the incident caused a significant scare, the fire department’s prompt response and the school’s quick action in evacuating the building likely prevented a more serious situation. The safety and well-being of the students remain the top priority, and the school is working closely with authorities to investigate the cause of the carbon monoxide detection and ensure the continued safety of the campus.
