Students Sickened After Pesticide Drifts Over Bus

Thursday 29 March 2012 01:06:00 PM

Location: 25800, Stockdale Highway

Categorie: Pesticides

Description:

Will there be a follow up of the incident in this article? BY JASON KOTOWSKI Californian staff writer jkotowski@bakersfield.com A school bus was hit with pesticide drift Thursday morning, prompting decontamination of 30 students. A crop duster dropped its load about 7:50 a.m. in the 25800 block of Stockdale Highway, and pesticides were believed to have drifted over the bus, said Ernie Unruh, superintendent of the Rio Bravo-Greeley School Union School District. The bus was not directly hit. About 20 students complained of itchiness, upset stomach and generally not feeling well. Firefighters and hazardous materials crews decontaminated students on school grounds on Enos Lane at Kratzmeyer Road. The children were given showers and clean clothes to wear. While Hall Ambulance spokesman Scott Allen initially said some patients were going to a hospital, later it appeared the children were evaluated and taken care of at the school. One parent took a child to a doctor to ensure the child's asthma would not be exacerbated by the exposure. Unruh said the bus driver immediately called him and said he believed pesticide has drifted over the bus. Parents of the students on the bus were called, as well as emergency help.