Florida high school evacuated after multiple 'lightheaded' students fall ill in cafeteria

Students have been rushed out of a school after several workers were hospitalized with a mysterious illness following a carbon monoxide leak in the cafeteria.

Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Florida, was evacuated after four workers and a firefighter started inexplicably experiencing headaches and nausea.

According to a post on the City of Weston's X.com page, three people experienced 'lightheadedness in the cafeteria.' 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the most frequent symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are dizziness, headaches, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. 

Students were rushed out of a high school in Weston, Florida , after several employees were hospitalized with a mysterious illness following a carbon monoxide leak in the cafeteria

On Friday morning, Cypress Bay High School was evacuated after four workers and a firefighter started inexplicably experiencing headaches and nausea

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that is highly fatal. 

The five individuals were subsequently taken to the Cleveland Clinic, where they are reported to be in stable condition, according to Fire Rescue spokesman Battalion Chief Michael Kane, who spoke with the Miami Herald. 

Around 10:30am, firefighters arrived at the school, which is on 18600 Vista Park Blvd, and they quickly detected elevated Carbon Monoxide levels.

At the time, the City of Weston wrote on X.com: 'Crews monitored high Carbon Monoxide levels and all the gas to the building has been shut off. The cafeteria building is being evacuated.'

Afterwards, the BSO and Fire Rescue hazardous materials teams were dispatched to the site, where they secured a propane tank that supplies the school.

Although the propane tank seems like a plausible culprit, Chief Kane said the source of the leak is still under investigation

Once they completed this, carbon monoxide levels subsided to their normal amount. 

Although the propane tank seems like a plausible culprit, Chief Kane said the source of the leak is still under investigation.

In an update to the situation, WestonFL Alert wrote on X.com: 'Two HazMat teams have begun ventilation of the building and the Carbon Monoxide levels are now low.'

They added: 'Additional adult patients are being evaluated and additional EMS units have been called in.'

The school initially decided to remain open and urged parents not to 'come to the school'

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What are the warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning? Constant headaches, dizziness and even hallucinations could all indicate you've breathed in colorless and odorless gas 

However, at this point, the school remained open, and the city urged parents not to 'come to the school to pick up your child at this time to allow units ease of access into and out of the school.'

About an hour later, though, the school ordered an evacuation of the premises. 

At noon, the students were dismissed and the entire campus was evacuated 'out of an abundance of caution,' Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn said.

Dr. Hepburn further stated: 

'Our teams are assessing that leak so we can find it and rectify it so we can be back to normal operations on Monday.'

According to officials at the Broward County Public School, a total of eight people were affected by the leak

According to officials at the Broward County Public School, a total of eight people were affected by the leak.

After the incident, students' parents expressed their anxieties, as well as their frustration with the school. 

'We got a recorded message from the principal saying there was a gas leak in the cafeteria,' Danica Velickovich told CBS. 

'Then they told us to pick up our kids at 12. I was surprised because two of the recordings said they were safe.'

'I heard there was a gas leak and people were taken to the hospital,' Kristin Smith said. 'I was worried about my children about the dangers and their exposure to it.'

At noon, students were dismissed from the school

Students voiced their fear following the harrowing incident. 

'I was scared. This is a really serious thing,' Isabel Santa Cruz, told CBS.

'When I heard people were being sent to the hospital, this stressed me out,' she continued.

Another student put it bluntly: 'There was a gas leak and they told us we could not leave our class.'