CEDAR CITY — Students and teachers were evacuated from Canyon View Middle School on Thursday afternoon after possibly being exposed to carbon monoxide.
According to an Iron County School District news release, the school was evacuated shortly after 1 p.m. after reports of a strong odor in the school’s D Hall, thought to be related to the ongoing construction in the building.
“As a precautionary measure, Cedar City Fire Department monitored the air throughout the school and did not find any dangerous levels of carbon monoxide,” the news release stated.
While all students were then cleared to re-enter the building, a few students and teachers in D Hall reported minor symptoms such as headache, dizziness or nausea,” the statement said.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and poisonous gas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for approximately 20,000 emergency room visits and 400 deaths in the United States each year. It is often called the “invisible killer” because it is virtually undetectable by humans. Common symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, aches and pains.
Officials said the cause, source and exact nature of Thursday’s incident are still under investigation.
“Paramedics were called to test the CO levels of all students in D Hall using a finger monitor,” the statement said. “About 25 individuals were advised to be further checked by a doctor as their levels were above normal.”
The release included praise for all involved with addressing the situation quickly and effectively.
“We appreciate the quick reaction of the fire department and first responders,” the district’s statement concluded. “We are also grateful for the fast response of students and teachers as they evacuated the building. We care about the safety of everyone in our schools and will take necessary precautions to ensure this does not happen again.”
This report is based on information provided by school officials and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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