A RIPPLE IN RIPON

Around 40 pupils simultaneously fell ill at a Remembrance Day service on 11 November. The 11am assembly was interrupted at Outwood Academy in Ripon, North Yorkshire, as about a dozen children began to feel faint and sick during the two-minute silence. Firemen, hazardous materials specialist officers and paramedics were sent to the school amid initial fears that a gas leak or hazardous substance had triggered the illness, but following an investigation fire brigade officer Dave Winspear declared the incident was caused by pupils “overheating”. He said: “We are of the view that the children just fainted and there was a ripple effect throughout the school. More children felt anxiety and started to feel concerned and the thing has escalated.”

One pupil said: “When the first boy was sick we thought it was a one-off, but then there was a big slap on the floor and someone had fainted. After that it was a bit of a domino effect, another three or four collapsed and then

“After someone fainted, it was a bit of a domino effect”

people started leaving the hall to get fresh air. One of the boys who fell was a bit concussed and had a big lump on his head. After that they ushered us out quickly and a couple of girls had panic attacks.” The pupil said lessons went ahead as normal during the afternoon, but more students complained of headaches and nausea. Five ambulances remained parked outside as well as at least four fire engines with their blue lights flashing. Outwood Academy has 635 students, aged from 11 to 18. BBC News, dailymail.co.uk, 11 Nov; D.Telegraph, 12 Nov 2015.