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School alarm in Meinersen: Children in the hospital after eating fruit!
In Gifhorn, 15 children were taken to the clinic after eating unripe fruit. Fire and rescue services in action.
School alarm in Meinersen: Children in the hospital after eating fruit!
On Wednesday, June 25th, there was an extraordinary operation by the fire brigade in Meinersen in the Gifhorn district after several school children showed symptoms of poisoning. The students had unexpectedly eaten unripe fruit from a tree on the school grounds and complained of stomach pains, prompting a large emergency services response.
Initially eleven and later even 15 affected children were reported. Two of them developed cold sweats, so two ambulances were immediately sent to the main school. Uncertainty about the exact type of fruit, which may have been mirabelle plums or plums, led to a “mass casualty incident” alert being triggered. In the end, nine ambulances, two ambulances and two emergency doctors arrived to ensure rapid care.
Care and transport of children
Emergency doctors assessed the affected students on site. Ten children were taken to hospitals in Gifhorn, Wolfsburg, Celle, Hanover and Braunschweig for further observation. Fortunately, all students were deemed to have minor injuries and hospitalization was decided as a precautionary measure. The head of operations, Jens Grünhage, noted that the exact type of fruit could not be conclusively clarified, but the children's symptoms were most likely related to the consumption of unripe fruit.
The police closed the Gajenberg to support the rescue efforts, while classes for unaffected students continued as usual. The parents of the affected children were informed immediately and accompanied their offspring to the hospital.
Education and precaution
This incident highlights the importance of checking school grounds and public areas for toxic plants. Fire departments and schools should pay more attention to planting to avoid such incidents in the future. It is recommended to keep public areas away from plants with potentially poisonous fruits (see also Pediatricians online ).
Children in such a situation are particularly vulnerable, as the experts emphasize. Poisonings are common emergencies in early childhood. Parents are required to inform their children of possible dangers in an age-appropriate manner and to ensure that toxic substances or plants are not within reach.
The event in Meinersen shows how quickly having fun outdoors can have health consequences. All actors should work together all the more so that schools not only remain a safe place for education, but also a safe playground for the little ones.