One sickened by McDonald's fumes dies

ajcnews.com ^ | 9-8-11

[rawhide]

A hospital official says one person who was sickened by fumes at a McDonald's restaurant in Pooler has died.

Memorial University Medical Center spokesman Michael Notrica confirmed the death Thursday but said he could not provide any details about the person.

Authorities said 10 people were taken to the hospital Wednesday after firefighters found two customers unconscious inside a restaurant bathroom and others struggling to breathe. Notrica said eight were treated and released and two were admitted for treatment.

Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons earlier said one of the customers found unconscious was in critical condition, but it was not clear whether that was the person who died.

The restaurant was evacuated but a statement later issued by McDonald's said the restaurant had reopened after authorities deemed it safe.

[tarotsailor]

Hope this is a cleaning accident and nothing more...

Haven’t eaten at a McD’s in years. If they brought back the Big Mac For $1 special they used to have (what...10yrs ago?), I’d head there on foot right now.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Wrong mixture of common cleaning supplies produced chlorine gas?

Bleach and lye --> chlorine gas?

[PowderMonkey]

"Officials suspect cleaning chemicals in the restroom are to blame, but a specific cause had not been determined, Simmons said."

If cleaning agents are involved, they were brought together (ammonia and bleach) by someone who knew what would result. If by accident, they should have found a dead employee slumped over his bucket and mop.

[no-to-illegals]

Since there is a pungent odor associated with mixing these types of chemicals, then difficulty breathing, a question of why was the McD not evacuated and authorities not called sooner? Anyone know? Did someone attempt to empty a container where the chemicals were supposedly mixed? Have any witnesses been spoken with?

[no-to-illegals]

Another link for this incident ... http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/08/2396439/woman-sickened-by-fumes-at-ga.html

[wintertime]

I wonder if it was carbon monoxide?

[wintertime]

Simmons said the firefighters who first arrived smelled an unusual odor,
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Odor? Then it definitely was not carbon monoxide.

[wintertime]

If cleaning agents are involved, they were brought together (ammonia and bleach) by someone who knew what would result. If by accident, they should have found a dead employee slumped over his bucket and mop.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Good point! You win the “Mr. Monk Award” of the year!

[the OlLine Rebel]

I don’t even understand why the firemen were there to begin with.

Didn’t say anything about someone calling them, or seeing something wrong, etc. It’s almost as if firemen were just there for lunch.

[no-to-illegals]

There does appear to be much missing in the reports. Unknown after unknown. Autopsy will provide some information. MHO ... that autopsy should be double time.

[discostu]

When I worked at McD there were at least 4 occasions when guys accidentally mixed bleach and ammonia. None of them wound up doing more damage than giving the person in question a viscous headache, but they all did it in large rooms too. It would be easy to do on accident and walk away, like to clean a toilet (dump them in the toilet and let them get some soak). It’s a tempting mixture for the uninformed cleaner, they both have very desirable cleaning properties, generally the 2 best cleaners in the building. And you don’t generally have the brightest and best working in fast food.

[MCF]

Couldn’t be, there were survivors.

[Tea Party Hobbit]

the management of an upscale restaraunt removed and banned one of those from their stores,because if only one of the two are used,either is perfectly safe.

Same situation where I used to work: cleanser (containing bleach) was still on the custodial supplies stock list, but ammonia had been dropped.

We had a good custodian who bought his own ammonia.

[goat granny]

Your right on....I have heard of people mixing 2 different chemicals to clean toilets and died from the gas’s released. Got to be careful with glues also...I do crafts and accidently used two different glue’s and you could see the chemical reaction that floated up into to the air...never made that mistake again...

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

That’s Taco Bell!