Nine students at Unity Reed High School were treated for dehydration Friday afternoon after medical emergencies broke out during an ROTC field day, prompting an emergency response that briefly halted activities and delayed dismissal at the Prince William County school.
Field Day Activities Stopped Immediately
School officials said nine students became dehydrated during the event, according to dcnewsnow.com. Unity Reed Principal Milagros Vélez said nine students experienced medical emergencies during the afternoon's field day activity, and the station reported that field day activities were stopped immediately once the issue became apparent. As reported by WJLA, emergency crews were called to the school's football field just before 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to police scanner audio.
The school was placed on a brief HOLD status while EMS crews treated the students, which also delayed dismissal, per a letter from Principal Vélez cited by WJLA. The outlet's report indicates Unity Reed has been in contact with the students' families to provide support. Unity Reed High School is located in Manassas, within Prince William County.
Condition of Students Still Unclear
The dcnewsnow.com report said it was still working to learn more about the condition of the students who were treated. No details have been confirmed about whether any of the students required further medical care beyond the on-scene treatment for dehydration.
A Pattern Seen Elsewhere
Friday's incident in Manassas echoes a similar episode last month in Glendale, Arizona, where three ROTC students were hospitalized after becoming overheated during activities near 67th Avenue and Greenway on September 13, according to thecooldown.com, which cited Glendale Fire. Several additional students in that incident were evaluated and released to their parents, the outlet reported.
Virginia law already addresses the risk of heat-related illness in schools. State code calls for policies that include procedures for preventing, recognizing, and addressing heat-related illnesses, including dehydration, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, according to the Virginia Code. Separate legislative text requires the state Board of Education to develop, periodically review, and distribute guidelines on extreme-heat safety for student-athletes engaged in outdoor physical activity, per the Virginia Legislative Information System.
