The Tulsa Jail is in a lockdown. 38 adults and five children are ill from unknown causes and are being treated by EMSA.
You can hear our first two reports from the scene by clicking above links
The children are students at Bell Elementary who were on a field trip to the jail. A total of 13 patients have been taken to the hospital at this time, and EMSA reports they are all in fair condition. The were all suffering from carbon monoxide type symptoms.
Sheriff's office Sgt. Shannon Clark says 55 children and five adults from Bell Elementary School were visiting the facility when one of the students began feeling ill around 11:42 a.m. Thursday. Clark says as an ambulance was arriving to check on that child, other children began getting sick.
Clark says the children complained of being light-headed and dizzy. He says they were alert and didn't appear to be suffering from serious medical issues.
Clark says the children were moved outside. The area housing inmates wasn't affected.
A fire department hazardous material crew took air samples to determine whether something in the air contributed to the illnesses.
The Tulsa Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit is on the scene, checking into what might have caused the incident.
Statement from Tulsa Public Schools regarding incident at David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center involving Bell Elementary students:
“Today 53 sixth graders from Bell Elementary and five adults were on a field study trip to the county jail as part of Career Day activities. Beginning at 10:20 a.m. some students started showing signs of an illness and by 11:52 EMSA was called to the scene.”
“After EMSA inspected all students and adults on the field trip, 31 students were transported to area hospitals. The remaining students and adults returned to the school. Bell Elementary School personnel contacted the parents of all students to let them know the location of their students.”
“The cause of the symptoms is not yet known and is still under investigation.”