LITTLETON, Colo.—Fire officials say 23 students and staffers at a suburban Denver high school were treated at area hospitals after an irritant in the air caused them to begin coughing and choking.
The students and teachers at Chatfield High School in Littleton were all released from the hospitals by Friday night. At the school in the afternoon, they were sprayed with water to remove the contaminant and had to change into paper gowns and towels.
Firefighters were trying to identify the substance.
About 500 students and 150 staffers were at the school for orientation on Friday. Students who weren’t affected were sent home.
Firefighters initially were called to help someone who was having a seizure in the parking lot. But on arrival, six students and staffers reported that an irritant in their throats was causing them to cough. More students and staffers later reported similar symptons.
Officials said the seizure wasn’t related to the irritant.
