Baltimore County Fire Department crews that rushed to Parkville Middle school early Friday afternoon after students reported experiencing breathing difficulties were stumped by what caused the complaints.
The situation at the school, at 8711 Avondale Rd., was reported at about 1:15 p.m. ? just an hour before classes were scheduled for dismissal.
Fire department spokeswoman Elise Armacost said that upon arrival, a medic unit was summoned to the nurse?s office, where they found two students with mild respiratory symptoms.
Shortly thereafter, she said, 15 other students in other parts of the building began complaining of the same symptoms, Armacost said.
“Five of them were transported to Franklin Square Hospital for evaluation,” she told The Examiner. “We have no idea what caused this.”
As a precautionary measure, the building was evacuated.
Armacost said firefighters, accompanied by a Hazmat team, went room to room in search of hazardous materials but found none.
“There were no carbon monoxide or other dangerous gases and no one seemed to be seriously ill,” Armacost added. “It doesn?t appear there?s anything wrong with the school that would cause a health problem.”
Schools spokesman Charles Herndon said school officials were just as stunned.
“We won?t know anything until the fire department determines what happened,” Herndon said. But “the situation was quickly stabilized and the students were allowed back into the school to get their personal belongings and board the buses to head home.”
Armacost said the situation remain under investigation.
