Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify that while eleven children were transported to hospitals for medical evaluation, they were not admitted for long-term hospitalization.
Emergency personnel and hazardous materials technicians swarmed a Wellesley daycare earlier today after reports emerged of children at Bright Horizons being exposed to a toxic substance. According to NBC Boston, the incident at 60 William St. prompted a flurry of activity as the State Fire Marshal's Office dispatched state hazmat teams to support the local fire department.
A post by the Wellesley police detailed that "several children were inadvertently exposed to a commercial grade dish cleaner," as reported by NBC Boston. In a series of events, these children encountered a substance that was inadvertently placed in soap dispensers; they were evaluated on-site and eleven were transported to area hospitals for further care. Photographs from the scene showed a fleet of first response vehicles, punctuating the gravity of the occurrence.
Adding context to the situation, WCVB reported that the emergency call was placed around 11:15 a.m., signaling a need to treat children suffering from skin irritations after washing their hands at the day care. "It appears a commercial grade dish cleaner was inadvertently put into hand soap dispensers, which caused the reactions," explained officials.
Wellesley Fire Chief Steve Mortarelli described the skin irritation as akin to a bad rash or sunburn. In total, twelve children required medical attention, with eleven of these young individuals taken to a local hospital for evaluation and subsequently released. The daycare, which hosts approximately 40 children, swiftly contacted parents to collect those who were unaffected by the incident.
