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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2055031/posts?page=969#969
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2055031/posts?page=970#970
2 hospital ERs placed on lock down
06:32 PM CDT on Saturday, August 30, 2008
ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -- Two St. Louis area emergency rooms were placed on lock down Saturday afternoon after several people walked in and said they had been exposed to an unknown chemical, authorities said.
St. Anthony’s Medical Center in south St. Louis was closed to new patients around 3:30 p.m. after three men walked in with a blue tint to their skin, officials said. One of the men was listed in serious condition early Saturday night. A hazardous materials team set up decontamination tents in the hospital’s parking lot shortly after the incident was reported to authorities. About 20 people people who were inside the emergency room were quarantined and expected to undergo decontamination procedures, officals said. Silvernail said the hospital’s ventilation system had been isolated as a precation, and people were not being allowed to leave or enter the facility. A short time later the emergency room at SSM DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, Mo., was also placed on lock down after three people walked in and said they had been exposed to an unknown white powder, Silvernail said. An emergency official said two of the patients were in critical condition. The Pattonville Fire Protection District’s hazardous materials team planned to perform decontamination procedures on several dozen other people who were inside the hospital. Officials said two more patients were taken to St. Louis University Hosipital and Barnes Jewish Hospital. Neither hospital was expected to be placed on lock down. Silvernail said the incidents began in East St. Louis. A source close to the situation said it appeared the affected people were searching inside a Dumpster when they came into contact with the chemical.
This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.