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Ripon school: up to 40 students suddenly taken ill with nausea Ripon school: up to 40 students suddenly taken ill with nausea
(35 minutes later)
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. Ambulance crews have treated 40 pupils at a school in Yorkshire after several collapsed during an assembly, prompting what fire crews believe was a “ripple effect” of hysteria-based nausea and faintness.
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. Fire service specialists said they had found no hazardous substances at Outwood academy in Ripon, North Yorkshire, adding the mystery mass illness could have been caused when four pupils fainted in an over-warm assembly hall during a Remembrance Day service.
Ambulance and fire crews sent teams specialising in hazardous substances to the school, but it was not known if this was the potential cause. Paramedics treated 40 pupils at the secondary school for symptoms including nausea and dizziness. Police said one student was taken to hospital by his parents, with another getting treatment at a minor injuries unit.
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”. The alarm was raised shortly before 12.30pm on Wednesday following reports that a large number of pupils were feeling unwell. Police were called to the school, along with ambulance and fire crews, including specialist hazardous substance teams.
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. One pupil, 15-year-old Joshua Hall, said: “We were all in assembly for Remembrance Day and people were just passing out towards the end. It was pretty scary, it was talked about the whole day and it kept getting worse and worse.”
“Up to 40 students are currently being treated on scene, but we have not conveyed any patients to hospital at this stage.” Another student, who asked not to be named, said several students collapsed in the school hall. 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. After that they ushered us out quickly and a couple of girls had panic attacks.”
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. While a Facebook forum for parents at the school included rumours of a gas leak, Dave Winspear, from North Yorkshire fire service, said specialists detected no hazardous substances.
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. He said: “Children were feeling unwell, nauseous, dizzy. The ambulance service treated children for those symptoms. We worked through our protocol to see if there was anything untoward and assessed the school for any hazardous materials.”
“After that they ushered us out quickly and a couple of girls had panic attacks.” While the cause remained unknown, Winspear said the assembly hall was warm at the time. He added: “We are of the view the children just fainted and there was a ripple effect throughout the school. More children felt anxiety and started to feel concerned and the thing has escalated.
Lessons went ahead as normal in the afternoon, the pupil said, but more students complained of feeling sick and suffering from headaches. “I would like to assure you, we have carried out a very thorough assessment and found no hazardous materials or anything untoward in the school environment.”
The North Yorkshire fire service said it was also at the scene, and that specialist hazardous materials officers were in attendance. A spokeswoman for Outwood Grange academies trust, which runs the school, said four students had fainted during the remembrance service assembly. One of these bumped their head doing so and was taken to a local walk-in minor injuries centre in Ripon.
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.
#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.
The North Yorkshire fire service said it was called to the school at 12.21pm to reports of a number of pupils feeling unwell. She added: “Following the assembly, a further 20 students presented themselves during the course of the morning complaining of feeling faint and dizzy. At this point the academy, again as a precaution, called an ambulance.”
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. In all, the trust said, 40 students were treated on site. All later rejoined lessons or went home as normal.
“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.” Yorkshire ambulance service said it received a call at about 11.30am 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.
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.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. 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 had 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.