30 Students Hospitalized After Gas Odor at Wheaton School

Students treated after complaining of nausea and headaches

About 30 children were taken to hospitals and the building evacuated after a power outage and complaints of a gas odor at a west suburban middle school on Monday.

The students at Edison Middle School at 1125 S. Wheaton Ave. in Wheaton were taken by ambulance after complaining of nausea and headaches, Community Unit School District 200 interim superintendent Faith Dahlquist said.

Dahlquist said the school evacuated after an “odor of natural gas” and a simultaneous electrical outage occurred just after noon.

Students “were evacuated at the advice of the Wheaton Fire Department,” according to Erica Loiacono, spokeswoman for Community Unit School District 200. “Some students reported smelling some strange odors around lunchtime.”

Firefighters determined two separate incidents caused the opdor, Loiacono said in a statment. “First, there was a small gas leak contained to one classroom. Second, due to the power outage in the area, an air conditioner malfunctioned and was emitting a burning odor.”

Students reported headaches and feeling lightheaded and were taken to the hospital as a precaution, she said. Another nine students were treated on the scene.

As of 1:20 p.m., fire authorities had given the school the all clear to resume classes, but power remained out, Dahlquist said.

Nicor gas crews did not respond to a call at that address, a spokesman said.

Because of the power outage, all after-school activities have been canceled for Monday, but school is scheduled to resume at normal time Tuesday, Loiacono said.

The power outage was not related to the gas leak, she said. It affected the School Service Center and Edison, knocking out all district email and phone.

Loiacano said earlier this year, the Board of Education approved the purchase of a back-up generator to ensure “continuous access to communication services,” and said the work is scheduled to be completed by Thursday.

“We understand that some families attempted to call or email our schools and District office and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience,” she said.

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