Quincy, IL – Parents and students had a scare Saturday night during Quincy High School’s 19th Annual Octoberfest Band Competition at Flinn Stadium.
John Simon with Adams County Emergency Management said that students participating in the competition fell ill towards the end of the competition and were complaining of shortness of breath and headaches.
Simon said the Quincy Fire Department responded to the scene, and a generator near where the students were gathered tested positive for carbon monoxide fumes.
“Well, there were multiple busses parked back there due to the number of bands at the competition, and they all had generators running for their equipment and that kind of stuff too,” Capt. Bernie Vahlkamp said. “Due to the cooler weather last night, I believe all of the busses were running for the kids to be inside there for warmth while they weren’t competing, and the generators were also running for their equipment and their band instruments, so I think it was a combination of both.”
Emergency response teams treated 16 people at the scene. Five people were transported to Blessing Hospital. They have since been treated and released.