Six habanero peppers are being blamed for Monday afternoon’s haz-mat situation at a Lakewood school.
At about 1 p.m. Monday a skin reaction sent seven students from Jefferson County Open School to hospitals, and about two dozen others were decontaminated on site before the school was evacuated.
Jefferson County Public Schools released a statement Tuesday saying that members of the environmental services team found pieces of about six habaneros peppers scattered in the wood chips of the playground where the children had the mysterious reaction.
Investigators don’t know how the peppers got onto the playground.
District officials are washing the playground and equipment to ensure there is no more oil from the peppers.
The wood chips where the habanero peppers were found will be replaced.
School will be back in session Wednesday.
Yesenia Robles
Author: Mile High Mamas
LaraMomof2
Too funny. Outlaw the peppers. We must protect the children.
Sherrie
I made the mistake of not using gloves when handling habanero peppers a few years ago then went to use the bathroom. Needless to say it was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt. Those things can hurt and no wonder they had a reaction.
Patricia
We need to make all schools pepper free zones. 🙂
Michele
That is just messed up. Do you think some sicko put them in the playground to hurt children? This world… it’s a mess.
Jene
Let the conspiracy theory run! You know. A kid probably brought them to school to dare kids to try them.. Left them on the playground and others got a hole of them… Those are some hot peppers and can cause the reactions those kids had… And if they didn’t realize what they were or the effects..
Phyllis
This response is so crazy!! Where was the common sense? I can’t believe so much time and money were wasted. More importantly that so many children were put through a hazmat decon for no reason!!!
A little soap and water (not sanitizer gel) would have solved this. What stupidity!