By Andrea Salazar
The Eagle
BRYAN, Texas — A 20-year-old Texas A&M student remained in critical condition Wednesday night after authorities said he ingested a chemical substance while on the Texas A&M campus.
Bryan Battalion Chief Jordan Gallagher identified the substance as sodium cyanide, a toxic chemical that can be fatal because it interferes with a person’s ability to breathe.
Hazardous materials crews with the College Station Fire Department were called to the Rudder Plaza area at about 3:30 p.m., and Bryan firefighters set up decontamination tents in the St. Joseph hospital parking lot soon after. Crews were on the scene near Rudder Tower until about 7 p.m. and did not clear the St. Joseph hospital parking lot until about 8:30 p.m., after decontaminating 12 people -- including the patient, Texas A&M EMS, emergency room staff and firefighters, Gallagher said.
Tim Ottinger, St. Joseph vice president of communications, said the six people he saw go through the decontamination and observation process had been discharged as of 9 p.m. The patient was decontaminated before being admitted into the emergency room.
“Our trauma team has a protocol for every known chemical or substance, so decontamination is an important piece to make sure patients or caregivers don’t spread any contaminant that might be on the individual to other health care providers or the emergency room,” Ottinger said.
Early symptoms of cyanide poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include light-headedness, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, suffocation and confusion.
The CDC’s emergency response guide recommends decontaminating those who come into contact with the substance by washing their clothes and body with a soap and water solution.
Police had not identified the student Wednesday night.
———
©2014 The Eagle (Bryan, Texas)