Seven children hospitalized after ingesting Nicorette mints

Seven children required hospital treatment as a precaution when they ate Nicorette mints while at a daycare center, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

It happened about 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Jacklyn Academy Private School at 325 SW 27th Ave.

The children ranged in age from 9 to 11, said Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan.

“It’s my understanding that one of the kids brought the tablets to school and that they were playing some sort of game when the other children ingested them,” he said.

There was only one mint left in the 27-tablet container, Gollan said.

All seven children were taken to Broward Health Medical Center in stable condition.

“There were signs of rapid heart rate, hypertension and nausea,” he said. “Everyone had ingested between two and 10 tablets.”

Nicorettes are designed to help adults quit smoking by weaning them off nicotine.

“We’re trying to highlight the importance of locking up your medication,” Gollan said. “Even though you may think this isn’t harmful to children, it can be very harmful.”

All seven children were kept at the hospital for observation and then discharged Friday afternoon.

Efforts to contact the school by phone for comment were unsuccessful Friday afternoon.