A Christchurch daycare has expressed their “shock” and “deep regret” after five children and two adults were taken to hospital after a corrosive chemical was mistaken for detergent and put on a water slide this afternoon.
In a statement this evening, Kindercare Woolston said initial indications suggest the children and staff were “potentially exposed to a chemical detergent used for the centre kitchen steriliser unit, which was mistakenly believed to be dishwashing liquid and poured onto a slide with water for the children’s ‘slip ‘n slide’ activity”.
All children were showered following the incident.
Five children and two employees were taken to hospital. One child had since been discharged.
In its statement, Kindercare Woolston said the area was cordoned off and the centre put into lockdown. The parents of the children involved and other families were also informed of the incident.
“Kindercare is shocked that this incident occurred and children entrusted to our care were harmed. Our first priority now is to ensure the children receive the medical attention they need,” the statement read.
“We are supporting our families to keep them informed. We express our deep regret and acknowledge just how distressing this is to parents and families. Kindercare will also be ensuring our team members in hospital are receiving support and care.
“Kindercare is taking this seriously and will ensure a full investigation takes place.”
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Forty people assessed at the scene
Emergency services were called to the Kindercare Learning Centre on Ferry Rd around 1.13pm.
Fire and Emergency Woolston senior station manager John Herriott said teachers had put on a water slide for a “bit of fun for the kids”.
“Unfortunately, some detergent has been misidentified and a corrosive product has caused irritation to the skin.”
Roads have been closed surrounding the Kindercare Learning Centre on Ferry Rd in the suburb of Woolston. (Source: 1News)
Hato Hone St John said it responded with 18 emergency vehicles, including nine ambulances, three rapid response units, five operations managers and one major incident support vehicle.
Forty people were assessed by ambulance staff and seven were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition, said St John hazardous area response national operations manager Chris Harrison.
“The others have been all fully assessed at the facility,” he said.
“Two were injured but were only minor, so they’ve been left with advice to if they need assistance later on what they can do, and then the others have all gone home with their parents. These are chemical burns, and so they were able to be decontaminated here, and then we’ve been able to transport them through to Christchurch City Hospital.”
St John earlier said five children and one teacher had been injured.
Emergency services responded to the incident at the Kindercare Learning Centre on Ferry Rd in the suburb of Woolston at around 1.13pm on Friday. (Source: 1News)
A grandparent picking up their grandson from the centre told 1News his first instinct was to rush over after hearing about the emergency.
“I was just concerned about him and I said to my son that I would come and grab him. I only live across the road and have just finished work.”
Mother Nikita Wagstaff said her daughter suffered a small burn to her hand during the incident.
“It’s only little, and that could be considered a blister,” she said.
