A new laundry detergent used this weekend in a fraternity’s “slip ’n slide” charity event triggered allergic reactions among a handful of George Washington University students, one of whom was hospitalized.
The Saturday event was part of Pi Kappa Alpha’s fifth annual Fireman’s Challenge, which raises money for the D.C. Firefighters’ Burn Foundation. The fraternity this year opted for a convenience store-bought brand of detergent to soap up the track on University Yard, which contained a “caustic chemical that can cause skin and eye burns or irritation along with allergic reactions,” university officials said in an e-mail to the heads of sororities.
At least one sorority member who took part in the slip ’n slide was hospitalized, according to the GW Hatchet student newspaper, which first reported the story Monday.
Neither school spokeswoman Tracy Schario nor fraternity president Nicky Sampogna could say how many participants were sent to the hospital. A George Washington University Hospital spokeswoman did not return phone calls.
The university e-mail identified the brand as Kirkland Signature Laundry Detergent.
“There wasn’t any indication or warning label saying this is toxic if touched to the skin, or anything like that,” said Sampogna, a junior.
He said this year’s Fireman’s Challenge nevertheless was the most successful to date, raising $21,000 for the nonprofit, which aids the recovery of injured firefighters and burn victims. The event has raised more than $40,000 for the cause since its inception, he said.
Between 400 and 500 fraternity and sorority members participated in the slip ’n slide, which was one of seven events that day, according to Sampogna.
