Tennessee students treated for heat illness after bomb threat forces school evacuation
Twenty-one students were hospitalized after suffering heat-related illnesses during the evacuation of Carter Middle School in Knox County, Tennessee, following a potential bomb threat.
THE TAKEAWAY
STRAWBERRY PLAINS, Tenn. – A reported bomb threat at a Tennessee middle school prompted a schoolwide evacuation Friday, forcing students to wait outside in scorching summer heat. Twenty-one students experienced heat-related illnesses and were transported for treatment, including three who were considered critical at the time, officials said.
A threatening message discovered on a bathroom wall at Carter Middle School in Strawberry Plains prompted the evacuation of the school’s students and staff to its football field at approximately 10:25 a.m., according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
For nearly an hour, students waited at the safe, outdoor location amid scorching heat and humidity, with the heat index reaching 96 degrees in Knox County as officers swept the school for potential threats.
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Students were allowed to reenter the school at 11:27 a.m. By then, several were showing signs of heat-related illness, prompting additional first responders to assess and treat them.
According to Rural Metro Fire, in total, 21 students were treated for and transported with various degrees of heat exhaustion, with three of those considered critical at the time they were transported.
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"Our EMTs and Paramedics performed flawlessly under extreme heat! In total, Rural Metro Fire had three fire engines on the scene and 12 total personnel! They cared for and reassured a bunch of young people in distress," Rural Metro Fire - Knox County wrote in a social media post.
At 11:20 a.m., the heat index in Knox County had climbed to a scorching 96 degrees, meaning the combination of high temperatures and humidity made it feel nearly 100 degrees outside.
Juvenile detectives with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the threatening message and the circumstances surrounding it.
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