Elementary students stricken by mysterious rash

One day after a two-day seminar on incident response and force protection, the Fort Belvoir staff faced a challenge, which moved the theoretical to the practical.
A total of 13 people - two adults and 11 children - were examined and transported to Dewitt Army Community Hospital from Fort Belvoir Elementary School
Friday, after suffering from rashes and unexplained itching.

All of the patients were evaluated, treated and released to their respective guardians.

The situation began after a DeWitt emergency services crew was called to FBES around 2:30 p.m. to attend to a student suffering from a medical problem
unrelated to the incident.

Upon their arrival, school officials notified the EMS team of two students who had developed hives.

According to Fort Belvoir Fire Chief Patrick Reid, the school nurse who notified emergency officials was prudent in her actions.

"I think she did everything in the best interest of the children," Reid said. "She did what she thought was right and I personally would not tell her to do anything differently.

"She is trained to handle one or two children and when there are more cases than that, it is in her and the children's best interest to dial 911, which she did," Reid said.

Dewitt EMS notified Fort Belvoir Directorate of Emergency Services of the problem and a fire engine and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene to tend to the patients suffering from the rash.

While tending to the two known cases, several other children began suffering from the same symptoms.

The responding units found that each child who presented the symptoms had frequented the same outside field and the library. At that time, due to the number of cases, additional units were requested.

At 2:43, the chief operations officer on-shift arrived and was briefed by the initial responding units. Based on their conversation, the officer requested a full Hazardous Materials team and executed the school emergency shelter-in-place operating procedure.

Students suffering from symptoms were isolated and placed in the care of medical professionals and the heating and air-conditioning was shut off to prevent the spread of any airborne allergen or substance that may have been present.

The hazmat team conducted a multitude of tests on the interior and exterior of the school for various harmful substances, including biological and nuclear agents, incendiary agents, corrosives, explosives, flammables and combustibles. All results from these tests were negative and officials began evacuating the students.

Children who presented none of the symptoms in question were either released via the bus and dropped off at their usual bus stops, or in the custody of their parent or guardian.

"Students and faculty were released from the school after being individually evaluated for symptoms similar to the personnel taken to the hospital," Reid said in a press release. "The mutual aid agreements we have in place with Fairfax County Emergency Services were invaluable in our efforts to effectively handle the situation working together."

Police, fire, hazmat, special agents and school representative's conducted a secondary sweep of the school before officially turning the scene over to the Fairfax County School Board and the Special Hazards Group of the Fairfax County Government.

According to Fairfax County School officials, crews cleaned the school Friday and Sunday and performed additional checks and monitoring.

After the hazmat team re-evaluated the school Sunday, they determined the school was fit for occupancy and school resumed on time Monday.

"A rapid response like this requires a lot of effort from many people to ensure the safe and immediate care of our patients. Our primary concern is that patients receive the care they need while minimizing any threat to the local community," Lt. Col. Mark Harris, deputy commander of Dewitt Clinical Services, said in a statement. "I couldn't be more proud of our team, along with other on-site responders, who worked quickly and efficiently to care for the patients."

According to officials, the cause of the skin reaction has not yet been determined.

A preventive medicine team from Dewitt is working with Fairfax County Public Schools and garrison officials to determine the cause of the incident. The team consists of workers from public health nursing, epidemiology, environmental health, industrial hygiene and occupational health.