An emergency department in Frederick, Md., was locked down after two patients complained of minor burning and trouble breathing, according to an article on the HCPro website.
The two men experienced symptoms when they opened a package delivered to their home. The men brought the package to Frederick Memorial Hospital, prompting the hazmat response.
The ED was closed to new patients for about three hours. Patients already inside were moved away from the two men.
A hazmat team came to establish a decontamination tent in the ED, but the suspicious package was found to contain a common household chemical.
Life Sciences and Healthcare: Reshaping Institutional Design
Arnprior Regional Health Upgrades Building Controls to Improve IEQ
Oregon Health & Science University Opens Vista Pavilion
The Growing Crisis in Rural Healthcare Facilities
A Cleaning Alternative: The Benefits of Steam Technology