Chapin High School Staff Report Lightheadedness Amid Fentanyl Rumors
CHAPIN, S.C. – A recent incident at Chapin High School raised alarms and sparked rumors within the community on Wednesday. The situation began when a school resource officer (SRO) started examining a backpack left unattended in a classroom around 11:30 a.m.
Medical Incident Raises Concerns
According to an incident report from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD), the officer began to feel chest pains and experienced shortness of breath while searching the bag. This concerning reaction led to several other staff members feeling dizzy and light-headed upon contact with the backpack.
Authorities Respond
The school promptly alerted local authorities, including the LCSD, Lexington Fire Department, and the Lexington County Hazardous Materials Unit. The Hazardous Materials Unit conducted tests on the backpack around 1 p.m. and found no hazardous materials inside it. The high school received an all-clear status by approximately 1:45 p.m.
Health Outcomes
Fortunately, both the SRO and all other staff members involved in the search were given on-site medical attention and were cleared to return to their duties shortly after the incident.
Addressing Rumors
In the aftermath of the incident, Principal Ed Davis sent an email addressing community concerns. He mentioned that there had been discussions among locals about a potential fentanyl exposure on campus. However, he emphasized that no official reports or firsthand accounts indicated any exposure to fentanyl or other harmful substances.
Unrelated Medical Emergency
It’s worth noting that there was an unrelated incident on the same day where emergency medical services were called for a student experiencing a medical emergency, though details about that situation remain undisclosed.
Conclusion
Authorities have stated that they are unsure how the rumors about fentanyl originated. The administration at Chapin High School aims to keep communication open and provide accurate information to the community as they navigate these concerns.
