Dexter, KS – Authorities in Cowley County rushed to Dexter Wednesday morning for carbon monoxide poisoning cases at Dexter Elementary School.
The Winfield Hospital said the call came around 10:30 a.m., and they received their first patient soon after. The hospital initiated their major incident response plan and called in extra staff including respiratory therapy specialists.
“Our first patient presented by private transportation at approximately 11:20 a.m., and the first patient to arrive by ambulance at 11:57 a.m. Both were classified as code yellow,” said Katie Johnson, Winfield Hospital Public Information Officer.
KSN confirmed seven students were taken to the hospital in Winfield, and at least 18 students were checked out for possible exposure. They were students in the first and second grade.
KSN interviewed two students who were in the school and treated at the hospital in Winfield.
“We all just started passing out,” said Emma, Dexter Elementary Student.
Roy Henderson is the Dexter Fire Chief. He also responded to the school to help. His daughter Grace attends the fourth grade. She said her friends started passing out in class.
Ron Ledford, the superintendent at USD 471, says a defective heat exchanger on the roof is likely the cause of the carbon monoxide poisoning. He says the unit sits above the first and second grade classrooms. Those units have been shut down, and the school has been cleared of carbon monoxide. The superintendent says lives were saved by quick thing from a librarian who is an EMT. He says school will resume tomorrow morning.