A routine day at Hastings High School in Westchester County turned hectic when a chemical spill occurred in one of the classrooms, leading to the evacuation of Hastings High School and the co-located Farragut Middle School. According to an announcement from the Hastings-on-Hudson School District, the spill happened during a science class on Thursday morning, affecting a teacher and three students who were immediately assessed by the school nurse and later taken to the Westchester Medical Center for further evaluation as a precaution, as reported by CBS News New York.
Meanwhile, a separate report by News 12 Westchester stated that in total, four students and two teachers required hospital attention.
The schools, collectively housing approximately 1,200 people, were promptly cleared out as students were ushered to a nearby ball field for their safety, the chaotic unwind unfolded under the watchful eye of Chopper 2 which buzzed overhead capturing students as they congregated outside. The superintendent of Hastings-on-Hudson Schools, Bill McKersie, alleged "Very few students and the teacher were affected by that splashing of material. We immediately addressed it, dealt with it, had nurses involved. And because it was a chemical, we immediately called 911," McKersie told CBS News New York, and he ensured "Everyone is safe. Everyone is fine. Any of the students or faculty affected have been addressed."
The exact chemical involved in the spill has yet to be disclosed. However, the incident was serious enough to warrant a response from the Westchester County Hazmat team to assess and manage the risks presented by the spill. Both Hastings High School and Farragut Middle School shut down operations for the day at 1 p.m., and it was decided that high school students were allowed to walk home, comparingly, middle school pupils needed to be collected by their guardians from Reynolds Field, and additionally, all after-school activities were canceled per News 12 Westchester.
Subsequent to ensuring that all students were accounted for, the school district notified families of the incident and the steps being taken to secure the area, "We want to inform you that, due to an isolated incident in a science classroom, all students at HHS and FMS have been evacuated as a precaution. Please be assured that the safety of our students is our top priority, and proper precautions are being taken," read the official communication, as reported by CBS News New York.
