The five students and two Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) personnel who were hospitalized Monday after inhaling colored smoke at the Bacolod City College Activity Center have been discharged, Dr. Johanna Ann Bayoneta, BCC administrator, said Tuesday, May 30.
They were hospitalized for difficulty in breathing and some were hyperventilating, she said.
They have not receive medical reports on the doctors’ findings yet, she said.
The colored smoke incident affected 23 students, two POSO personnel, one utility worker and a parent, she said.
The parent was not inside the activity center but hyperventilated when she learned about the incident, Bayoneta said.
The incident happened when a group of first year education students gave a presentation for their final practical examination at the BCC Activity Center and used colored smoke as their special effects at about 4 p.m. Monday, she said.
The activity center has air conditioning and the smoke that was inhaled by those present caused difficulty in breathing, she said.
Some were also reported to have fainted.
The cylinder that was used to generate the colored smoke was turned over to the police for crime lab analysis, she said.
On the label of the cylinder it was stated that it should be used in a supervised area, she added.
A 24-hour watch was held to monitor the condition of the rest of the students affected, she said.
Bayoneta said pyrotechnics and smoke special effects are not allowed during activities at BCC, and an investigation of those responsible for the incident will be conducted.
The BCC activity center has temporarily been closed for safety inspection and cleaning.*