HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A science experiment that went wrong injured more than a dozen students at Merrol Hyde Magnet School and forced the entire school to evacuate.
Seventeen students were triaged at the scene, and at least 10 students and one teacher were transported to hospitals with non-critical injuries, according to Fire Chief Scotty Bush. Four children went to Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital, six when to TriSar Hendersonville Medical Center. The teacher was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Madison.
Bush says the injuries are consistent with a flash fire that may have been caused by a chemical reaction. An investigation will determine exactly how the fire started.
The six students treated at TriStar Hendersonville went through a decontamination procedure as soon as they arrived, according to Dr. Berchaun Nicholls, an Emergency Room physician.
“When they came in we set up decontamination tents and had them wash off. And brought them into a room where they could be treated for their burns and given breathing treatments if they had any kind of shortness of breath,” said Dr. Nicholls.
Nicholls said they had superficial burns on their arms from a chemical reaction caused by mixing boric acid and ethyl alcohol, which produces a small flame.
“None of the children were actually doused with the chemicals,” said Nichols. “It didn’t stay on the body long. Any time you have any kind of chemical injury you do want to safely get your clothes off, and try to wash off and irrigate as quickly as possible.”
All six children were treated and released to their parents.
Inside the school, the fire department set up fans to clear the air.
Merrol Hyde Magnet school serves K-12 students with a focus on academic achievement. The school is located on Township Drive in Hendersonville.