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Wisconsin - Several students and staff become ill at Crandon School District; authorities still investigating cause - Carbon Monoxide leak

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  • Wisconsin - Several students and staff become ill at Crandon School District; authorities still investigating cause - Carbon Monoxide leak

    Several students and staff become ill at Crandon School District; authorities still investigating cause

    Morgan Johnson 17 hrs ago

    CRANDON, Wis. - The Crandon School District building is being investigated after several students and staff members became ill on Thursday. School is canceled on Friday.

    The Forest County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Crandon Elementary School about two students and one staff member being ill. They were not in contact with each other.

    They were transported to the hospital.

    Additionally, another student and four staff members at the middle and high school side of the building became ill with the same symptoms of lightheadedness, tingling, numbness in extremities, shortness of breath, slurred speech and rapid heartbeat.
    ...



    -----------------------------------------

    Crandon cancels classes for Friday after 10 people become mysteriously sick

    Crandon cancels classes, school activities for Friday

    By Heather Poltrock
    Published: Mar. 14, 2024 at 3:11 PM CST|Updated: 11 hours ago

    CRANDON, Wis. (WSAW) - The Crandon School District has announced it will not have any classes or after-school activities on Friday following Thursday’s bizarre incident.

    On Thursday, the Forest County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the school and was told two students and one staff member became ill with the same type of symptoms. They were all transported to the hospital. The three were not in contact with each other.

    Students were immediately taken outside to reduce any possible further exposure, according to authorities.

    The Crandon Fire Department and the Forest County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Crandon School District and began an investigation into the possible cause of the illnesses. The Crandon Fire Department checked the elementary school for any harmful gases and they did not locate any. The Forest County Sheriff’s Office deployed both K9s Atlas and Thunder to classrooms and lockers. The classrooms and lockers were searched with negative results of any contraband or illegal substances being located.

    While the building was being checked, one more student and four more staff members became ill on the middle/ high school side of the building. The Crandon Fire Department checked the middle school and high school for any sign of dangerous gases and they did not locate any.

    ...

    ---------------------------------------------

    At least 10 sickened by unknown illness rocking Crandon schools, investigation underway

    by Mallory Allen, FOX 11 NewsThu, March 14th 2024 at 8:41 PM

    CRANDON (WLUK) -- An unknown illness impacting students, staff and emergency personnel is at the center of an unfolding mystery in the Northwoods.

    According to authorities, around 1 p.m. Thursday, two students and one staff member from Crandon Elementary School fell ill Thursday with the same symptoms. However, they were not in contact with each other. All three individuals were taken to a nearby hospital and the building was evacuated to reduce further exposure.

    The Crandon Fire Department, along with the Forest County Sheriff's Office, began an investigation into the possible cause of the related illnesses. No harmful gases were located. K9 deputies were deployed to search classrooms and lockers for contraband or illegal substances, but none were found.

    While officials were searching the elementary side of the school, another student and four more staff members on the middle/high school side of the building became ill. Once again, no dangerous gases were detected.

    Two EMS workers from the Crandon Area Rescue Squad, who had been on scene assisting with transports, were sickened as well. Officials say Oneida County HAZMAT was dispatched to the school. So far, no one has been able to identify a specific cause of the illness.

    As a result, School District of Crandon officials canceled school and all after-school events for the remainder of Thursday, as well as Friday for precautionary measures. Law enforcement and relevant authorities are continuing to investigate.
    ...


    ---------------------------------------------------

    ​SCHOOL DISTRICT
    OF CRANDON


    9750 US HIGHWAY 8 W
    CRANDON, WI 54520-8499
    ...

    Dear Families and Staff,

    I want to extend our sincerest gratitude for your patience and understanding as we navigated the unexpected early
    release of our students today. Your cooperation and support have been invaluable during this time.

    This afternoon, at approximately 1:00 p.m., we began to receive reports that a few of our students were experiencing
    shortness of breath, light-headedness and increased pulse rate. As the day progressed, several staff members also
    reported these symptoms. In response to these concerns, we made the decision to evacuate the building and sought
    assistance from the Sheriff's Department to help us determine the cause of these symptoms.

    Despite our best efforts, we were unable to identify a specific cause. With the safety of our students and staff as our
    top priority, we made the difficult decision to cancel school for the remainder of the day. This action was taken to
    ensure the well-being of our school community and to allow for a more thorough investigation of our building
    systems.

    We have law enforcement and other relevant authorities remaining on-site as we continue our investigation into the
    cause of today's events. At this time, the investigation remains ongoing, and as a precaution, we have decided to
    cancel school tomorrow, Friday March 15, 2024 as well as all after school events tonight and tomorrow.

    We understand the inconvenience and concern this may cause and assure you that we are working diligently to
    resolve this situation as quickly and safely as possible. The health and safety of our students and staff are our utmost
    concern, and we are committed to keeping you informed as we learn more.

    Further updates will be provided as soon as they are available. If your student experiences these symptoms please
    seek medical attention and report them to the Sheriff's Department. Please take care of your loved ones, and do not
    hesitate to reach out to us with any concerns or questions. We appreciate your continued support and understanding
    as we work together to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our school community.

    Thank you again for your patience and cooperation.

    Sincerely
    Kirby Schultz
    Superintendent
    School District of Crandon​


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    • #3
      UPDATE - 39 affected by Carbon Monoxide leak in Crandon

      Mason Dowling Mar 15, 2024 Updated Mar 15, 2024 0
      By Kevin Millard

      CRANDON, Wis. (WAOW) -- Classes were cancelled Friday at the Crandon School District after officials found the source for a 'mysterious illness' that prompted an evacuation on Thursday.

      According to the Sheriff's department, hospitals across the area helped 39 people from what's believed to be Carbon Monoxide exposure.

      Two patients had elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide in their system.

      The source is believed to be a mechanical issue with the furnace at the school that caused a Carbon Monoxide buildup.
      ...


      ---------------------------------------

      Forest County Sheriff's Office
      2h ·

      Crandon School District Update

      03/15/2024

      On March 14, 2024 the Crandon School District Building was evacuated. The Oneida County HazMat and Wausau HazMat Teams were requested by the Forest County Sheriff’s Office to assist. Oneida and Wausau Hazmat determined it was a mechanical issue with the furnace that created elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide inside the school.

      Area hospitals were contacted and it was reported 39 patients received medical attention related to this event at the Crandon School. Of the 39 patients, two had reported elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide.

      Classes and school events for the Crandon School District have been cancelled for today. The School District reports it is making an active effort to make the school safe and rectify the situation to open campus for classes. See the Crandon School District website for information when classes will resume.

      The Forest County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by: Crandon Fire Department, Crandon Rescue Squad, Laona Fire Department, Argonne Fire Department, Forest County Emergency Management, Forest County Public Health Department, Oneida County HazMat and Wausau Hazmat, Crandon Police Department, The School District of Crandon, Aspirus Hospitals and Oneida County Emergency Services. The Sheriff’s Office and the Crandon School District is very thankful to all those that assisted.

      Click image for larger version  Name:	image.png Views:	1 Size:	305.9 KB ID:	987255

      ...​

      https://www.facebook.com/ForestCountySheriffsOfficeWI/posts/pfbid0FNvcK4VK3mkvXPFbsEL2cGHTi8wh5Tm1mmtH8h3LLdD2 N2HWHATJLTGzzdzKPzD7l

      -------------------------------------------------

      School District of Crandon
      20j ·

      District Administrator, Kirby Schultz has issued an update (3/16/24).

      SCHOOL DISTRICT
      OF CRANDON
      9750 US HIGHWAY 8 W
      CRANDON, WI 54520-8499


      Dear School District of Crandon Families and Staff,

      I hope this message finds you well. As you are aware, our school was closed due to concerns
      regarding a potential carbon monoxide leak. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students
      and staff remains our utmost priority.

      After thorough investigations and in consultation with relevant authorities, it has been determined
      that further testing and inspection are necessary to conclusively address these concerns.

      Therefore, we have decided to extend the closure of the school through spring break. Currently,
      we are planning for all students and staff to return on Tuesday, April 2.

      With the safety of our students and staff at the forefront of all of our decisions, we have decided to
      reach out to an additional company to further explore this situation and to ensure that we have
      completely ruled out any potential mechanical issues and to come to a resolution. Wisconsin
      Mechanical, out of central Wisconsin will be coming on Monday to assist with our investigation.
      In addition to ensuring the mechanical issues are corrected and to mitigate any potential risks, we
      are arranging for comprehensive cleaning of our facility. This process will involve thorough
      inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of all HVAC components to ensure optimal performance
      and eliminate any potential sources of contamination or hazard. Due to the in-depth nature of this
      cleaning, we want to ensure that sufficient time is provided, which will start as soon as we are
      given clearance and continue through spring break.

      We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and
      understanding as we work diligently to resolve this matter. As we continue to plan out this
      upcoming week, we are working towards a date where we will be able to have staff assist families
      and students to obtain their personal belongings.

      Please stay tuned to our official communication channels for further updates and instructions, as
      we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.

      Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

      Sincerely,
      Kirby Schultz
      Interim District Administrator
      School District of Crandon

      https://www.sdofcrandon.com/District%20Administrator%20Update%20March%2016th%2 02024.pdf

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