THE Bacolod City College (BCC) is now implementing measures to prevent entry of substances that can harm the students and faculty members inside the school campus, City Administrator Atty. Pacifico Maghari III said Tuesday, May 30.
This, after at least seven students and two personnel of Public Order and Safety Office (Poso) assigned at BCC experienced difficulty in breathing on Monday afternoon, May 29, when a group of students who performed at the BCC Activity Center used a smoke screen pyrotechnic device that immediately emitted smoke and caused some persons to faint.
Maghari said the City Health Office (CHO) and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) also responded to the area and checked the conditions of the students including the school personnel.
He said only one student was admitted to a hospital because of its health condition.
“It was supposed to be a class activity, but one of the groups used a colored smoke as their props which caused some to faint,” he added.
Based on the report of Primitivo Tabujara, head of Poso, it stated that the Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) department of BCC was conducting a presentation and evaluation program at the school’s Activity Center.
At about 3:55 p.m., as part of the culmination of the program, the participant fired a smoke screen pyrotechnic device. The device immediately emitted smoke, which instantly poisoned and fainted some of the attendees.
The two Poso personnel who immediately responded to the area also experienced difficulty in breathing.
The security personnel sought the assistance of the Poso main office and contacted the DRRMO and CHO for first aid and medical assistance, the report further stated.
To avoid a similar incident, Maghari said the school was already tasked to inspect the bags of the students to prevent the entry of the substances that can generate smoke inside the school.
He said the teachers should also review their activities to ensure the safety of the students, adding that the school administration was also directed to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.*