This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/11/pupils-collapse-school-ripon-south-yorkshire

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Ripon school: up to 40 students suddenly taken ill with nausea Ripon school: up to 40 students suddenly taken ill with nausea
(about 1 hour later)
Up to 40 students have been suddenly and mysteriously taken ill at a school in Yorkshire, with some collapsing and two taken to hospital, according to police and ambulance crews. Ambulance crews have treated up to 40 pupils at a school in Yorkshire after several collapsed during an assembly, with dozens of others then complaining of nausea and faintness.
The North Yorkshire fire service said it was also at the scene, and that specialist hazardous materials officers were in attendance. One parent said the incident happened during a Armistice Day service. Two of the students were taken for treatment at hospital or another medical facility following the incident at Outwood academy school in Ripon, North Yorkshire, the cause of which remains unknown.
Yorkshire ambulance service said it received a call at about 11.30am on Wednesday to report that a number of students had “fallen ill suddenly with nausea and feeling faint”. Ambulance and fire crews sent teams specialising in hazardous substances to the school, but it was not known if this was the potential cause.
Yorkshire ambulance service said it received a call at about 11.30am on Wednesday reporting that a number of students had “fallen ill suddenly with nausea and feeling faint”.
It said in a statement: “We dispatched a number of resources to the scene including a doctor, three ambulance crews, two rapid response vehicles, a number of clinical supervisors and our hazardous area response team.It said in a statement: “We dispatched a number of resources to the scene including a doctor, three ambulance crews, two rapid response vehicles, a number of clinical supervisors and our hazardous area response team.
“Up to 40 students are currently being treated on scene, but we have not conveyed any patients to hospital at this stage.”“Up to 40 students are currently being treated on scene, but we have not conveyed any patients to hospital at this stage.”
North Yorkshire police said two pupils had needed treatment at a hospital or other medical facility, with the others treated at the scene. One parent said the incident happened at an Armistice Day service. A pupil, who asked not to be named, said it began when several students collapsed in the school hall.
The as-yet unexplained incident took place between 11am and 11.30am at Outwood academy school in Ripon, North Yorkshire, police said in a brief statement. She said: “When the first boy was sick, we thought it was a one-off but then there was a big slap on the floor and someone had fainted. After that it was a bit of a domino effect, another three or four collapsed and then people started leaving the hall to get fresh air. One of the boys who fell was a bit concussed and had a big lump on his head.
The force said: “At this stage it is not known what has caused the students to fall ill and officers are working with the fire service to establish what has caused the incident.” “After that they ushered us out quickly and a couple of girls had panic attacks.”
The father of a child at the school told the Press Association that two pupils collapsed during a ceremony to mark Armistice Day. The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I rang the school to check my daughter was OK. I was told a couple of children had collapsed during a remembrance service. As it finished another couple went down. That’s when the fire brigade were called.” Lessons went ahead as normal in the afternoon, the pupil said, but more students complained of feeling sick and suffering from headaches.
The North Yorkshire fire service said it was also at the scene, and that specialist hazardous materials officers were in attendance.
North Yorkshire police said: “At this stage it is not known what has caused the students to fall ill and officers are working with the fire service to establish what has caused the incident.”
The father of a child at the school told the Press Association that two pupils collapsed during a ceremony to mark Armistice Day. The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I rang the school to check my daughter was OK. I was told a couple of children had collapsed during a remembrance service. As it finished another couple went down. That’s when the fire brigade was called.”
While the school was sealed off earlier, pupils were later allowed to go home. Many parents waited to hug them as they left. Five ambulances and four fire engines could still be seen outside the school.While the school was sealed off earlier, pupils were later allowed to go home. Many parents waited to hug them as they left. Five ambulances and four fire engines could still be seen outside the school.
#Ripon: we are aware of two pupils who have attended hospital or a local medical facility. The rest treated at the scene by ambulance staff.#Ripon: we are aware of two pupils who have attended hospital or a local medical facility. The rest treated at the scene by ambulance staff.
Officers were called at about 12.30pm, the police statement said.
The North Yorkshire fire service said it was called to the school at 12.21pm to reports of a number of pupils feeling unwell.The North Yorkshire fire service said it was called to the school at 12.21pm to reports of a number of pupils feeling unwell.
It said in a statement: “Crews from Ripon and Boroughbridge are at the scene alongside hazardous materials specialist officers. A specialist detection, identification and monitoring team from West Yorkshire fire and rescue service is also at the incident.It said in a statement: “Crews from Ripon and Boroughbridge are at the scene alongside hazardous materials specialist officers. A specialist detection, identification and monitoring team from West Yorkshire fire and rescue service is also at the incident.
“A number of students have been affected who have displayed signs of sickness and feeling faint. Some have been attended to by paramedics at the scene and others have been taken to hospital. We are working with colleagues from North Yorkshire police and Yorkshire ambulance service at this time to determine what has caused this occurrence.”“A number of students have been affected who have displayed signs of sickness and feeling faint. Some have been attended to by paramedics at the scene and others have been taken to hospital. We are working with colleagues from North Yorkshire police and Yorkshire ambulance service at this time to determine what has caused this occurrence.”
Incidents of sudden mass illness and fainting are not unknown at schools, or other big gatherings of young people. The most famous such event took place in 1980 when almost 300 children taking part in an outdoor brass band competition in Nottinghamshire suddenly suffered vomiting and other symptoms.
The cause was never pinpointed, with some officials suggesting at the time it could have been mass hysteria. However, a later BBC investigation said a subsequently-banned pesticide hed been sprayed in nearby fields, and could have caused the illness.
• A news alert sent for this story stated that 27 students had been taken to hospital. Later information from police clarified that two were taken to hospital and others treated at the scene.• A news alert sent for this story stated that 27 students had been taken to hospital. Later information from police clarified that two were taken to hospital and others treated at the scene.