April 24--A chemical spill in an East Naples CVS pharmacy sent six employees to local hospitals Wednesday night, according to East Naples/ Golden Gate Fire Control and Rescue District Assistant Fire Chief J. Nolan Sapp.
"We received a complaint about employees suffering from respiratory difficulties, a metallic taste in their mouths and they thought it was a gassy substance of some type was released in the store," Sapp said. "What we believe happened was a spill of some compounds in which they make medicine."
Sapp said employees of the CVS, 6800 Collier Blvd., had been working in an area where the chemical compound was spilled when they began feeling ill. Firefighters received the call around 5 p.m.
The spilled chemical, which was not identified, is used to make antibiotics and is meant to be take orally, not inhaled, according to Sapp.
"So as they've been working and stirring that up -- it's almost like a dust-type situation -- they've inhaled that and aggravated their respiratory system," Sapp said.
The employees transported to local hospitals suffered no major injuries, according to Sapp.
"To our knowledge they're all OK and will probably be released," Sapp said. "We've not received any other information otherwise."
Sapp says a hazardous materials team will remove the squares of carpet where the chemical was spilled and dispose of them. He says once his team clears the scene, it will be up to CVS's management as to whether the store will reopen for the evening.
Fire officials were still on scene as of 7 p.m.
Copyright 2014 - Naples Daily News, Fla.
