Suspicious Substance Incident at South Side Elementary School

Nine Elementary Students Hospitalized After Ingesting Heartburn Medicine

Nine elementary students at Richard J. Daley Elementary Academy, located at 5024 S. Wolcott Ave., were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital after eating a “suspicious” substance they thought was candy on Wednesday morning.

Students Become Ill After Ingesting Heartburn Medicine

At least six ambulances were called to the school about 9:30 a.m. after some kids “found a substance,” according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt.

Nine students became ill after ingesting the “nontoxic” substance, which turned out to be heartburn medicine, according to police and fire officials.

Patients Taken to Comer Children’s Hospital

The patients, all of whom were under the age of 10, were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition, said Merritt.

School Principal Addresses Incident

Kamilah Hampton, principal of the school, told the Sun-Times the incident was “very minor and happened off of school grounds.” An administrator told waiting parents that some of the sickened children had “very minor stomach aches,” and classes remained in session Wednesday, though families wanting to pick up their kids due to the incident had that option.

“I’m a parent too,” Hampton told one family. “I’d want to take care of my babies.”

Parental Concerns Addressed

Just after 11 a.m., about a dozen relatives of students stood outside the north entrance of the school waiting to pick up their students. Many parents were worried about the incident and grateful that their children were being taken care of.

FAQs

Q: What happened at the school?
A: Nine elementary students ingested a “suspicious” substance they thought was candy, which turned out to be heartburn medicine. They were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Q: How many ambulances were called?
A: At least six ambulances were called to the school.

Q: Were the students seriously injured?
A: No, the students were all taken to the hospital in good condition.

Q: How did the school respond to the incident?
A: The school took the incident very seriously and worked closely with emergency services to ensure the students received proper treatment. Classes continued as normal, but parents were given the option to pick up their children early if they so chose.

Conclusion

The incident at Richard J. Daley Elementary Academy serves as a reminder of the importance of teaching children about safety and the dangers of unknown substances. While the students involved were fortunate to have received treatment and made a full recovery, the incident could have had more severe consequences if not handled promptly and appropriately.