Eleven soldiers at Fort Bliss have been hospitalized after officials said they ingested ethylene glycol, a substance commonly found in antifreeze.
One warrant officer, two noncommissioned officers, and eight enlisted members fell ill on Thursday afternoon, leaving two in critical condition, according to a statement provided to the Washington Examiner on Friday.
Lt. Col. Allie Payne, a spokesperson for the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, said at a press conference on Friday evening that two were still in critical condition, but all 11 had shown signs of improvement.
“Initial reports indicate Soldiers consumed this substance, thinking they were drinking an alcoholic beverage,” base officials said in a press release. “Army and Fort Bliss regulations prohibit the consumption of alcohol in a field training environment. Initial toxicology results indicate the Soldiers are experiencing ethylene glycol poisoning.”
The specific circumstances around the incident are still under investigation by the military.
Fort Bliss, which is located in Texas, said that the incident occurred while their unit was completing a field exercise and that the substance that was ingested was “acquired outside of authorized food supply distribution channels.” The Army said it has been in contact with the families of the ill soldiers.
“We took immediate action to treat everyone involved with the best medical care available,” said Maj. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, senior mission commander of 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss.
“Our leaders are engaged at every level to provide guidance, information, and care for their teammates. Our commitment to our soldiers and families remains our No. 1 priority as we work to understand what occurred Jan. 28,” he added.
