You would have thought an Occupy Wall Street protest was being conducted in the cafeteria of Queens school J.H.S. 226 at 121-10 Rockaway Blvd.
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Yesterday morning around 10:30 a.m., at least 34 students were exposed to pepper spray, after an 11-year-old student is said to have accidently sprayed the toxic substance. One of her friends, a 6th grader, said her mom gave her the pepper spray to protect herself when walking to and from school alone.
As reported by DNAinfo:
“Eleven students were taken to area hospitals for minor irritation and 22 others were treated at the scene, EMS Chief Debra Calley said.
Another sixth-grader said a number of his classmates were exposed to the spray.
“Everybody started coughing and [the principal] told us to go [to] the auditorium,” the student said.
The Department of Education said the girl was showing the pepper spray to her friends when she accidentally set it off. More than 34 students were affected, DOE officials said.
“EMS and FDNY are on the scene and treating the affected students,” the DOE said in an email. “A doctor at the scene will look to treat and release the students at this point…. All parents and families are being contacted regarding the incident.”
Police said the girl was not taken into custody after the incident.
Queens City Councilman Ruben Wills stopped by the scene and said he hoped school officials would be understanding.
“I would hate to see disciplinary action for something that was an accident,” he said. “That responsibility will ultimately be with the [Department of Education].”
We are happy that no student was seriously hurt and that those who were injured are being treated.
SOURCE: DNAinfo
Photo Courtesy: DNAinfo
