LATEST UPDATE: At North Surry High School today at approximately 11:00 a.m. a student sprayed mace on the wall of a classroom. This incident occurred during a transition between classes and a limited number of students were present in that classroom. As a precaution, approximately 150 students were immediately evacuated from the classroom building to an auxiliary gymnasium. Personnel from Surry County Emergency Services and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office were on site to assist school officials in providing care and support to students and to parents. Students who were feeling ill were evaluated on the scene and five (5) students were transported by ambulance to Northern Hospital of Surry County in Mount Airy for further evaluation. Two (2) additional students were released to the care of their parents. Health care personnel remained on campus in the event that other students required medical attention. By late Wednesday afternoon, all students had been treated and released. North Carolina law permits persons who have not been convicted of a felony to possess mace in limited capacity for self-defense purposes; however the the Surry County Schools Student Code of Conduct prohibits the use or attempted use of mace, pepper spray, or similar products to harm a student or school personnel. The matter is presently under investigation by both school administration and law enforcement officials to determine appropriate disciplinary and legal action. The Surry County Health and Nutrition Center recommends that anyone who may have been exposed to a personal protection canister containing either mace or pepper spray should take the following precautions: • Seek medical attention for: o Eye irritation/burning that persists for more than 1-2 days o Respiratory symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing o Skin irritation such as redness or blistering • It is important to remember that there are generally no long-term effects resulting from short-term exposure. • Per the CDC, individuals with mild to moderate exposures generally improve rapidly following removal from the source of exposure and require no additional treatment. North Surry High School was back on a regular schedule and a normal routine within a short period of time.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:22:06 +0000
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