All Students and Teachers Released from Hospital After Carbon Monoxide Exposure

***Update 4:52 Tuesday**** All students have been released according to Polk County School District Superintendent Bill Miller and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.  School will be back in session Wednesday.

****Update**** 11:20 am Tuesday.  Two students stayed overnight at the hospital.  They are expected to be released today. Columbus Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant says the problem was insufficient air in the boiler room which created negative pressure and forced fumes into the ventilation system.  A vented opening is being created in the wall, and carbon monoxide detectors have been installed.  Fire and school officials want to run the heater for the day before they confirm school will be in session tomorrow, per Tennant and Superintendent Bill Miller.

****Update - 7:00 pm - Two people remain hospitalized at this hour.  All of the students and teachers are expected to make a full recovery****

32 people were taken to the hospital—27 students and 5 staff members—including the school’s principal after a possible carbon monoxide leak threatened students and faculty at the Polk County Virtual Early College Monday morning. Lietenant Matt Prince of the Polk Co Sheriffs Office said two remain hospitalized shortly after 5pm Monday.

Columbus Police Chief Geoffrey Tennant says the problem started when a heater was turned on for the first time this year.

He says he is 90 percent certain the students and teachers were exposed to carbon monoxide gases.

They began feeling sick and headed out of the classroom

Several students went across the street to the sheriff’s office for help.

“So then everyone started getting dizzy my friend asked me if I had any Tylenol I was like no and so I texted my mom to see if she could come by with some medicine and then everyone went outside and Alicia passed out and people were passing out everywhere,” Amber Holt, a student at the school, said.

“I saw one (student) laying down who was unconscious. I don’t know who it was, it’s kind of scary you know I’ve got kids myself, so you see every kid like your own kid,“ Chris Abril, Polk County Sheriff said.

Several students told us they passed out, but the hospital reports they were conscious when they arrived.

Although carbon monoxide poisioning can be deadly, in this case the exposure was minimal, according to a doctor from St. Luke’s.

“The labs didn’t show the exposure was you know overwhelming just observation and oxygen therapy, just a mask to blow in. they did not require hyperbaric or anything like that,” Dr. Lonnie Lassiter, of St. Luke’s Hospital, said.

The fire chief says The building is free of gasses now

According to Superintendent Bill Miller, the students will not likely return until Wednesday.

The following was posted on the Polk County Schools Web site Monday morning:
Polk’s Virtual Early College evacuated today (10/20/08) due to defect in heating system

A defect in the heating system at Polk County’s Virtual Early College, located at 51 Walker Street, in Columbus caused the evacuation of the building and the transportation of a number of students to the hospital. Some students were experiencing dizziness and were transported to St. Luke’s Hospital to ensure their safety. The Virtual Early College will remain closed for the remainder of the day.

Watch wspa.com for updates through the day.

Web resources
More on carbon monoxide poisoning
St. Luke’s Hospital Web site
Polk County Schools Web site