School teachers, students hospitalised after CO2 exposure

Three teachers were treated for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and hundreds of students evacuated from a Sydney high school on Friday afternoon.

Several students and teachers at a Sydney high school were hospitalised and hundreds of pupils evacuated after an incident on Friday afternoon.

About 12.30pm, emergency services arrived JJ Cahil Memorial High School in Mascot after reports people inside three classrooms had showed signs of poisoning.

Five students and three teachers were treated by paramedics before being transported to hospital, with the teachers showing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman Adam Dewberry.

“The students were more taken for observational purposes, (the teachers) were showing more signs of illness,” Mr Dewberry said.

More than 200 pupils were evacuated from the area nearby while firefighters assessed the scene using detectors, before it was declared all clear.

Mr Dewberry said tradesmen were on the site investigating the cause of the incident, but it was not believed to be suspicious.

A NSW Education Department spokesman said emergency services were quickly on the scene, that the area was now safe, and students had returned to their classes.

Originally published as School teachers, students hospitalised after CO2 exposure