Nicolas Lurati, Georg Nopper, Chiara Schlenz, and Jennifer Rieger
Chemical alarm in Lachen SZ! As a reader reporter first reported to Blick, there was a major operation in a school building on Tuesday afternoon. Several Rega helicopters were even called out. As the Schwyz cantonal police later wrote in a statement, a chemical accident in the indoor pool in the Seefeld school was the reason for the deployment of the emergency services.
Chemical accident in Lachen SZ: Reader video shows ambulance use(00:16)
David Mynall, spokesman for the Schwyz canton police, said on Tuesday evening: “Several children are receiving medical care.” Eventually it became clear that ozone had escaped in the indoor pool for unknown reasons. A total of 60 students from the 3rd to 6th grades and adults had to be evacuated from the school building.
Chemical accident in the indoor pool: “My daughter is shocked and upset”(01:36)
Most are back in class
12 school children and one adult had to be hospitalized with breathing difficulties and were flown to the hospital by a rescue helicopter. A total of around 200 emergency services, four rescue helicopters and 17 ambulances were deployed.
According to information from the municipality, no one will be in hospital care until Wednesday. Most of the children affected by the incident could have gone back to school. An affected teacher is also teaching again, the municipal council announced. As the Schwyz canton police later reported, only three children had to stay away from school.
Condition of the indoor pool “not good”
The parents of the affected children were informed on Tuesday that they should consult a doctor immediately if they develop coughing or breathing difficulties. A reader says to Blick that the condition of the indoor pool “has not been good for years”. Some parents would have said so after the incident. “Something always has to happen before you do something,” he continues.
A mother of an affected child said to Blick on Wednesday: “My son had swimming lessons yesterday afternoon. Then the ozone incident happened. The children began to cough. In addition, they complained of headaches, some had to vomit, including my son. » When she found out about the swimming lesson incident, the first thought was that the blanket might have fallen off. “A few years ago, this indoor pool ceiling caused problems. It came loose and parts of it fell down, »says the mother. “Fortunately there was nobody in the hall at the time.”
The mayor went to the site immediately
The community of Lachen denies this. The indoor pool was partially renovated after the discovery of rust damage in 2018. The ozone system was also revised. This is serviced annually, the last service took place in summer 2021. Ozone can be used in swimming pools for water treatment.
Mayor Emil Woodtli (53, FDP) went to the site immediately on Tuesday when he heard about the chemical accident. The indoor pool will remain closed for the time being, says Woodtli. “If we know what it was, we will take action.” The indoor pool will only reopen when it is safe. “We are glad that it went more or less lightly,” says the mayor of the incident.
“I assumed the worst”
When she saw the many ambulances in front of the school building, the mother was shocked. “I assumed the worst.” However, her son did not have to go to the hospital. He is now well again. “I hope that something will finally be done to renovate this swimming pool. I’m 41 and I had swimming lessons here as a child in kindergarten,” says the mother.
Arsim Limani’s (52) daughter was also affected. “She had a headache and was scared.” The girl was taken to the hospital. “After three to four hours I was able to pick them up,” says Limani. “She is shocked and upset.” He had to talk to her a lot so that he could process and understand it. Luckily, she survived the incident well.
Yeliz Schweizer (41) was in the school building when the chemical accident happened. A little later she felt unwell. “I had a stabbing pain in my chest and a slight burning sensation in my throat,” says Schweizer. “I had to lie down, felt dizzy.”