Patient sprays nurses’ station with fire extinguisher,15 people land in hospital
A patient sprayed a fire extinguisher into a nurses’ station at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents Wednesday morning in Staunton, sending 15 people to Augusta Health with breathing and other respiratory problems.
Meghan McGuire of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services said four staff members and one patient were sent to Augusta Health in Fishersville for treatment.
Ten more people went to the hospital on their own to be treated or monitored.
It was not immediately clear what type of extinguisher was discharged or what chemicals were involved. But chemicals used in modern fire extinguishers are known to cause breathing difficulties in some people.
McGuire said as of noon, any other symptoms of staff or patients were being monitored. McGuire said the cleanup was being handled by the Commonwealth Center’s housekeeping staff with support from neighboring Western State Hospital.
“The safety of our patients and staff are critically important,” McGuire said. She said the remainder of the staff and patients are safe and the unit is secure.
The Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents is an acute care, mental health facility in Staunton for youth under the age of 18, and is operated by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Augusta Health spokeswoman Lisa Schwenk said that as of 11:38 a.m., the hospital anticipated all patients would be discharged. Schwenk said the hospital was operating under normal emergency department procedures since shortly after 11 a.m.
Source : News Virginia
