Carbon Dioxide Spurs Sickness Scare At Livonia School

LIVONIA (WWJ) - Multiple students became ill at a Livonia Middle School on Friday.

About 20 students at Emerson Middle School had mild symptoms of nausea and dizziness in the morning , according a media release from the Livonia Schools district.

Students were removed from the classroom, where fire officials say there were slightly elevated levels of carbon dioxide.

The affected classroom was closed off and the students were checked out by EMS.

Some returned to class and others went home with their parents. One was taken to St. Mary's Hospital for observation at the child's parent's request.

Livonia Fire Chief Shadd Whitehead told WWJ Newsradio 950 they worked with maintenance at the school checking sensors in the heating system and found the elevated levels.

""They're investigating as to why - whether it was an influx of air pressure downwards, so that means the environmental, you know, the environmental changes outside in the wind caused that influx - meaning that not  enough fresh air came in through the damper when the damper opened," Whitehead said.

The Livonia Fire Department found no other problem areas in the school and are monitoring the situation with district staff and security personnel assisting.

The investigation continues.