Los Angeles fire authorities stated that seven individuals were taken to hospitals, with ten students experiencing “medical issues” reported on Thursday at Van Nuys Middle School.
The occurrence was reported approximately at 10:30 a.M. At the educational institution in the 5000 section of Vesper Lane.
Three hospitals were dispatched to the scene, where seven patients were transported locally. The L.A. Fire Department official stated that 12 students, aged 14 and under, were assessed for suspected drug overdoses and found to be experiencing mild to moderate distress.
Many firemen and police officers carried out an extensive investigation of the educational institution to guarantee the presence and whereabouts of every student.
The Fire Department stated that hospital personnel will finalize the details of the medical grievances and potential substance(s) employed. The crews present at the location verified that this was NOT associated with fentanyl.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Unified School District, it was mentioned in a statement that the school premises remained “safe and available for educational purposes.”
The spokesperson stated that at Van Nuys Middle School, they were informed about a cluster of students who experienced a medical episode today. They took the precaution of seeking medical aid.
Captain Erik Scott from the Los Angeles Fire Department mentioned that the students might have ingested “edibles,” but he also indicated that the investigation was ongoing.
“It wasn’t opioids; we didn’t have to give Narcan,” Scott said outside the school.
Officials searched the campus for more patients, but didn’t find any. As officials arrived, they prepared for a mass casualty event, as several students were sick.
On Thursday at 1 p.M., Voices of students could be heard on campus, and other emergency vehicles and fire engines were still present at the school.
A parent who preferred to remain anonymous mentioned that he had a conversation with his twelve-year-old daughter and she was not concerned.
The parent had been informed via email about the situation and was informed that their child would stay at the school for the remainder of the day.
However, some parents still desired to bring their children back home.
Several parents handed blue check-out slips and their photo IDs to school officials at a side gate as school lets out at 3 p.M.
School administrators searched through a laptop on a coffee table to locate the student.
Christopher Angel, a 12-year-old student in the 7th grade, exited alongside his mother, Angela Valle.
“Only three individuals were intoxicated in my class,” he stated.
Angel mentioned that he overheard the students consuming cannabis-infused products, and he witnessed them doing so in his science class.
“They were behaving strangely, exhausted, and intoxicated,” he stated.
School authorities consistently reassured parents that their kids were secure.
“Your kids are doing well in the classroom,” one school representative mentioned while distributing blue forms.
Karla Rivera waited outside the educational institution for approximately an hour prior to the release of the students.
She mentioned that the school did not inform her promptly about the medical crisis. She mentioned that her twelve-year-old son contacted her.
Rivera stated, “He informed me that an incident occurred. He believed it was an individual attempting to unlawfully enter the educational institution.”
One hour later, Rivera mentioned, she got an automated phone call from the school informing her about the health crisis.
“I immediately thought of fentanyl,” Rivera said. “The school has done a very poor job of communicating of what is going on.”.