CEDAR RAPIDS- An unidentified odor sent two dozen students and a handful of cafeteria staff members at Harding Middle School to the school clinic. They all say it happened shortly after noon Monday when a strange smell filled the cafeteria causing them to cough and even vomit.
Cedar Rapids fire, hazmat, and ambulances rushed to Harding Middle School on the 4800 block of Golf Street Northeast in Cedar Rapids near Noelridge Park.
Fire officials say they’re using process of elimination to rule out a pool of options. But they still haven’t figured out what triggered headaches, coughing, and nausea.
“We sat down and a bunch of kids ran out and said their stomachs started to hurt and their lungs and then I finally got it and then I ran out,” said sick Harding Middle School student Dayton Achey.
“Everyone started coughing and a couple people were throwing up,” said sick Harding Middle School student Parker Kalv.
20 students and staff members suffered the same symptoms after sitting in Harding Middle School’s cafeteria Monday afternoon.
“Those that have the symptoms were along one table closet to the cafeteria and the cafeteria workers as well,” said Cedar Rapids Fire Greg Buelow.
Seventh grader Dayton Achey called his mom who rushed to pick him up.
“Pulling up and seeing hazmat, fire trucks, and ambulances. It’s like something’s not right,” said Harding Middle School Parent Jennifer Cady.
Jennifer Cady went inside Harding to get her son. She says she’s surprised other parents weren’t notified sooner.
“I think I would be a little angry. I just would want to know if it wasn’t a big deal and just getting it checked out,” said Cady.
These staff members were taken in ambulances to area hospitals along with other students. Dayton and Eighth grader Parker Kalv are headed to get check-ups, too.
“I have a really bad headache and I feel like throwing u,” said Kalv.
Fire officials say those not in the cafeteria during the incident are not affected. That’s why the other nearly 900 students and staff inside Harding were not evacuated. Again, students not affected by the cafeteria odor remained in class. The district also brought box lunches to feed the rest of the students after fire officials closed off the cafeteria. After school activities were cancelled Monday night, but school officials say they will have class Tuesday.
