Seven people, including five children and two adults, were taken to the hospital after a corrosive chemical was accidentally used on a waterslide at a Christchurch childcare centre on Friday afternoon.
The incident occurred at the Kindercare Learning Centre on Ferry Rd in the Woolston suburb, with emergency services arriving at the scene at around 1.13 pm, as reported by 1News.
FENZ Woolston senior station manager John Herriott said the waterslide had been set up as a recreational activity for children.
“Unfortunately, some detergent has been misidentified, and a corrosive product has caused irritation to the skin,” 1 News has reported.
Hato Hone St John deployed 18 emergency vehicles to the scene, including nine ambulances, three rapid response units, five operations managers and one major incident support vehicle.
Ambulance crews assessed around 40 people at the site, with seven taken to hospital, including one person listed in a serious condition, according to St John hazardous area response national operations manager Chris Harrison, as reported by 1News.
“The others have been all fully assessed at the facility,” he said, 1News has quoted.
“Two were injured but were only minor, so they’ve been left with advice to if they need assistance later on what they can do, and then the others have all gone home with their parents. These are chemical burns, and so they were able to be decontaminated here, and then we’ve been able to transport them through to Christchurch City Hospital,” as quoted by 1News.
Earlier reports from St John had stated that five children and one teacher were injured in the incident.
A grandparent collecting his grandson from the centre told 1News he immediately went to the facility after learning of the emergency.
“I was just concerned about him and I said to my son that I would come and grab him. I only live across the road and have just finished work,” 1 News has quoted.
One parent, Nikita Wagstaff, said her daughter suffered a minor burn to her hand.
“It’s only little, and that could be considered a blister,” she said, quoted 1News.