5 Adults, 2 Children Sent To Hospital After San Jose Chemical Exposure

UPDATE 3:15PM-

SAN JOSE - Five adults and two children were sent to a hospital after they made contact with a chemical that spilled at a health center in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood this morning, a fire department spokesman said.

Crews responded to a report of an irritant at the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley at 1333 Meridian Ave. around 9:45 a.m., Fire Capt. Christopher Salcido said.

Firefighters arrived to the center, where 17 people were exposed to 1 ounce of cresol, a chemical used as a sealant for children's dental fillings that spilled in a treatment room, Salcido said.

A hazardous materials team responded to the scene and cleaned up any traces of the chemical in the one-story building, Salcido said.

Seven people who had direct contact with the chemical had to be decontaminated with soap and changed into hospital scrubs before they were transported to a hospital, he said.

An update on their conditions was not immediately available Wednesday afternoon.

Another seven people who inhaled the chemical were OK after they stepped outside for fresh air and three others who were exposed didn't report any problems, according to Salcido.

The building was evacuated before firefighters arrived and crews cleared the scene shortly after noon, he said.

Workers at the health center planned to close the facility for the day, Salcido said.

The facility, which opened in 1994, provides medical and dental services, according to the center's website.

-Bay City News

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(original story)

SAN JOSE - Ten people have been exposed to a chemical found at a health center in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood this morning, a fire department spokesman said.

Crews responded to a report of an irritant at the Indian Health Center in the 1300 block of Meridian Avenue around 9:45 a.m., Fire Capt. Christopher Salcido said.

Firefighters arrived to the center, where they learned 10 people were exposed to a chemical used in dental procedures and called a hazardous materials team to the scene, Salcido said.

Some of the 10 people inhaled the chemical while others had contact with it and were getting decontaminated at the scene, he said.

Seven ambulances have been called to the scene but Salcido didn't know as of 10:40 a.m. if anyone was transported to a hospital.

He also didn't know if there were any evacuations in the area. No other details about the incident were immediately available.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock