Student fainting causes ‘domino effect’ in Dresden

Emergency crews were called to downtown Dresden to deal with multiple medical calls for students, while the Remembrance Day service was taking place.

Steve Pancino, General Manager for Medavie EMS Chatham-Kent, said multiple young people were assessed at the scene.

“I can confirm that Medavie EMS paramedics and a supervisor responded ‎to the call,” Pancino told the Sydenham Current. “15 patients were assessed and treated at the scene with three of those requiring additional treatment in hospital. None of their conditions are serious at this time.”

Pancino said all the people treated were ‎under the age of 18.

“It started with one student suffering a syncopal episode (passing out) which triggered a ‘domino effect’ with other students,” he said. “The three transported to hospital were taken for further observation only. I would like to thank the assistance of the school vice principal, the CK police and CK fire who assisted paramedics with the large number of patients.”

Scott McKelvie, principal at Lambton-Kent Composite School, said people treated were students from the Dresden school.

“As we do every year, our students walk down to our Legion across the street and then walk down to the cenotaph for the Remembrance Day service,” McKelvie told the Sydenahm Current. “About 10 minutes in, for reasons we are unsure of, whether they were standing for too long, were overdressed, but they started experiencing illness, being nauseous and some fainted. Fire police and eventually the ambulance were called… they were there right away and handled the situation very well.

McKelvie added: “We had encouraged the kids to dress warm this year, as last year it was really cold. It ended up being a really bright and sunny day.”

McKelvie said it was discussed among their staff whether alcohol or drugs played a factor into this, and McKelvie confirmed this was definitely not the case.

“It was discussed,” he said. “But no, it was not the case.”

McKelvie said letters were being sent home to parents and was going to be speaking with the parents of all the students who were brought to hospital.

Patricia Lunnon-Fox, who witnessed the events take place, said it was “really odd” situation.

“All I saw was this kid lean and then all of a sudden he fell right on his face. It was scary,” she said. “We ran over and then I ran to grab towels and a cold wash cloth from a nearby restaurant. He was bleeding. Police and firefighters rolled him over and kept him comfortable.”

Lunnon-Fox said the boy has a cut on his chin and his nose was bleeding, but he appeared coherent.

She said the fainting didn’t stop.

“The next thing you know, two more go down,” she said. “And then two more.”

Lunnon-Fox said the number of kids fainting was chilling.

She has a daughter, Tiffani, who is in Grade 11 at LKCS.

“After the fifth (student) went down, I said to the teachers that we’d better get the kids sitting down before we had more injuries,” she said. “My daughter, after it was all over, went back to school. She texted and said another two went down at the school.”

Medavie officials confirmed a scene assessment at the location of the incident revealed no concerning risks or hazards.

Watch for more on this story and for another story about the Dresden Remembrance Day service as well.

More photos from the scene: