By Madison Mathews
The Johnson City Press via The News Sentinel
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — At least six people were taken to Sycamore Shoals Hospital late Friday night after they came into contact with hazardous materials believed to have been associated with a methamphetamine lab, according to Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes.
A large section of downtown Elizabethton near the Carter County Jail was shut down shortly around 10:30 p.m. while emergency personnel and hazardous materials teams worked to clear the scene after a deputy collapsed in the jail’s processing area while bringing in a man arrested on drug charges during a routine stop in the Stoney Creek community.
“What we believe has happened to this point is this individual, who was arrested on drug charges, has been in a meth lab,” Mathes said.
The harsh fumes from the unknown chemical substance permeated the man’s clothing and skin to the point where the fumes overpowered the officer, leading to an immediate quarantine of the area, Mathes said.
The Elizabethton Fire Department, Elizabethton Police Department and the Carter County Emergency Management Agency were among the other agencies who responded to the jail.
The contaminants were quickly gathered and secured by hazmat crews, and the jail’s ventilation system was shut down to keep any of the fumes from spreading.
Because the man was only brought into the processing area, Mathes said there weren’t any other areas of the jail believed to have been contaminated. He said there wasn’t any reason to believe the inmates or other jail personnel were exposed to whatever the substance was.
Mathes said that at least five emergency personnel — including deputies, a jail nurse and other officials — had to be taken to Sycamore Shoals for treatment and decontamination. At least four or five others had to be decontaminated at the jail. The man also was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Carter County EMA Director Andrew Worley said the symptoms of those taken to the hospital included tingling lips, vomiting, nausea and loss of consciousness.
All six people taken to the hospital were treated, decontaminated and released early Saturday morning, according to Mountain States Health Alliance Vice President Ed Herbert.
Once at the hospital, a “Code Alpha” was issued at 11:30 p.m., prompting the quarantine of the emergency department to prevent the substance from spreading. While uncommon, the initiation of a “Code Alpha” is essential whenever there is a concern that an unknown substance or chemical contamination has occurred, according to Sycamore Shoals Hospital CEO Dwayne Taylor.
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