Florida high school evacuated after multiple ‘lightheaded’ students fall ill in cafeteria

Students were rushed from a high school in Weston, Florida, after several staff members were hospitalized with a mysterious illness caused by a carbon monoxide leak in the cafeteria.

Cypress Bay High School was evacuated Friday morning after four employees and a firefighter experienced unexplained headaches and nausea.

According to a post on the city of Weston’s X.com page, three people experienced “headache in the cafeteria.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are dizziness, headache, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.

Cypress Bay High School was evacuated Friday morning after four employees and a firefighter experienced unexplained headaches and nausea

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that is extremely deadly.

The five people were then taken to the Cleveland Clinic, where they are said to be in stable condition, according to fire department spokesman Battalion Chief Michael Kane, who was with the Miami Herald.

Around 10:30 a.m., firefighters arrived at the school, located at 18600 Vista Park Blvd. They quickly found elevated carbon monoxide levels.

At that time the City of Weston wrote on X.com: ‘Crews were monitoring for high carbon monoxide levels and all gas supplies to the building have been shut off. The cafeteria building is being evacuated.’

The BSO and Hazardous Materials Fire teams were then dispatched to the location, where they secured a propane tank that supplies the school with fuel.

While the propane tank seems like a plausible culprit, Chief Kane said the source of the leak is still under investigation

After they did this, the carbon monoxide levels dropped to normal levels.

While the propane tank appears to be the likely culprit, Police Chief Kane said the source of the leak is still under investigation.

In an update on the situation, WestonFL Alert on X.com wrote: “Two HazMat teams have begun ventilating the building and carbon monoxide levels are now low.”

They added: ‘Additional adult patients are being assessed and additional ambulance services have been called.’

The school initially decided to remain open and urged parents not to ‘come to school’

However, the school remained open at the time and the municipality urged parents ‘not to come to school to pick up their child at this time, so that units can easily get in and out of the school.’

However, about an hour later the school ordered the grounds to be evacuated.

In the afternoon, students were sent home and the entire campus was evacuated “out of an abundance of caution,” said Dr. Howard Hepburn, superintendent of Broward County Public Schools.

Dr. Hepburn further stated:

“Our teams are assessing the leak so we can find it and fix it. We’ll be back to normal operations on Monday.”

According to Broward County Public School officials, a total of eight people have been affected by the leak

According to Broward County Public School officials, a total of eight people were affected by the leak.

After the incident, the students’ parents expressed their concerns and frustration with the school.

“We got a recorded message from the director saying there was a gas leak in the cafeteria,” Danica Velickovich said CBS.

“Then they told us to pick up our children at 12 o’clock. I was surprised because on two of the recordings it said they were safe.”

“I heard there was a gas leak and people were being taken to the hospital,” Kristin Smith said. “I was worried about my children because of the dangers and their exposure.”

At 12:00 noon the students were dismissed from school

Students expressed their fear after the shocking incident.

“I was scared. This is really something serious,” Isabel Santa Cruz said CBS.

“When I heard people were being sent to the hospital, I got stressed,” she continued.

Another student said bluntly, “There was a gas leak and they told us not to leave our classroom.”