May 03--LINWOOD -- Officials at Mainland Regional High School continue to investigate what caused a chemical reaction that required an evacuation of the building today.
"This was a surprise to him and to us," said Superintendent Tom Baruffi about the employee who was mixing the chemicals.
The chemical is not supposed to have a chlorine shock, but when the Atlantic County HazMat team tested it, they found chlorine in it, Baruffi said.
"We don't know if something is mislabeled or if it's human error," Baruffi said.
School will return to a regular schedule Monday.
Emergency medical personnel and firefighters were at Mainland Regional High School, after a chemical reaction produced noxious fumes near the school's pool at 9:30 a.m., police said.
"The school has been vented and the fumes are cleared. All after school activities will continue as planned," police said.
Shore Medical Center reported about 28 cases related to the incident.
Students and staff went to the hospital, and only one was transported by ambulance, said Lt. Colin Hickey. The number could increase later in the day depending on how students feel in the hours following.
Dierdre Lenzsch, 16, said she went to the hallway near the spill to attend a class at about 9 a.m. but felt nauseous.
"It was like a wet, stale bathing suit smell," she said. She had a migraine soon after and was asked to go to the emergency room.
Lenzsch said when she arrived in ER she saw her classmates waiting in a long line.
The school notified parents that a "minor" chemical spill has sent several students to the hospital.
Baruffi notified students of the issue and that school will be let out at 10:45 a.m. Buses came to take the students home, he said.
Police said they have not been notified of any critical injuries.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
Copyright 2013 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
