MIRAMAR, Fla. — Four staffers at Whispering Pines Center were “triaged and decontaminated” following a potential hazmat situation at the school.
Miramar Fire Rescue was called to the Broward County school around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday when the employees reported feeling lightheaded and nauseous after they came into contact with a bag of pills brought on campus by a student, 7 News reports. Two students were also evaluated by paramedics but no one was taken to the hospital.
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“We made sure that we triaged every individual that complained of any symptoms at all, made sure that every single individual was decontaminated appropriately to ensure that we could return everybody back to a normal school day,” said Tara Smith with Miramar Fire Rescue.
A Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials unit was requested “to ensure a thorough and safe evaluation area,” according to Miramar Police spokesperson Janice McIntosh. Police announced the school was clear to resume normal operations around 1:45 p.m.
Whispering Pines Center SRO Secured Pills
A school resource officer assigned to the school “secured the bag immediately and placed it in a safe location, separate from all students and staff, until the contents could be properly examined,” said McIntosh. McIntosh also noted the pills were unbroken, indicating less of a risk of others being impacted by potential residue in the air.
Broward Public Schools spokesperson Cathleen Brennan said in a statement that the student responsible will “receive appropriate consequences” and that the district “defer(s) to law enforcement for additional details.”
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“We’re not sure what that was. We’re not sure what the level of exposure was, but so far, we found, through preliminary testing, that nothing was hazardous, so nothing should have caused those symptoms,” said Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss.
Whispering Pines Center is an alternative education public school with a current enrollment of just under 200 students, according to the school’s website.
