The south tower at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital was closed Thursday after what officials described as a chemical incident, sending some patients and staff home while crews moved in to secure the area.
Hospital leaders said ambulatory patients and some employees in the south tower were released for the day as a precaution. The emergency department and the hospital’s main building stayed open, so anyone headed there for urgent care was still able to get in. DeKalb County fire and HazMat teams responded to handle an unknown substance at the scene.
According to Atlanta News First, the hospital did not identify the chemical involved but confirmed the closure of the south tower and the decision to send ambulatory patients and staff home. The outlet noted the situation was still developing late Thursday night.
What we know about the building
The Arthur M. Blank Hospital serves as Children’s 19-story flagship on the North Druid Hills campus, listed at 2220 North Druid Hills Road NE, with a large emergency department and outpatient clinics on site, according to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The hospital opened in 2024, consolidating services from older campuses, and the south tower functions as a key hub for ambulatory care on the property.
Response and cleanup
DeKalb County fire crews and HazMat units worked to remove the chemical and limited activity in the south tower while they assessed and cleaned the affected area, Atlanta News First reported. Hospital administrators said emergency services were still operating from the main building as responders secured the impacted spaces.
What families should know
Parents with appointments at the Arthur M. Blank campus are being urged to check in before heading over. Families can visit the hospital’s locations page or call ahead for the latest on schedules and access. The site provides directions, wait times and visitor guidance for the Arthur M. Blank campus and serves as the primary source for operational updates, per Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
