Two minors seriously injured at a school in Porqueres while conducting a volcano experiment

BarcelonaA chemistry experiment at the Porqueres Local School resulted in three nine-year-old students suffering burns. The Emergency Medical Service (SEM) evacuated two of the injured students in serious condition to Vall d'Hebron Hospital, one by helicopter and the other by ambulance, and the third with minor injuries to Josep Trueta Hospital in Girona. According to sources consulted by ARA, the class was conducting the so-called "volcano experiment" outside the school. During the experiment, which is typically performed with a plastic bottle containing a mixture of ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar, the bottle burst, and the liquid splashed onto some students, causing burns to three of them. Since the experiment was taking place outdoors, the explosion did not affect the other classes, and it was decided to continue with normal school activities. "The school is safe," said the mayor of the municipality, Francesc Castañer, who insisted that the rest of the students and teachers are fine.

Healthcare

In total, the SEM (Emergency Medical Service) has deployed two medical helicopters, five ambulances, and a team of psychologists to provide emotional support to the other students and teachers at the school. According to Miquel Marcè, director of territorial services for the Girona Department of Education, the experiment in question was a "mixture of elements." He stated that it was a simple experiment that had been conducted at the school on other occasions and "nothing had ever happened before." The mayor emphasized that the school will continue operating normally and they are awaiting further developments for those affected. Regarding the children's condition, Jordi Jiménez, head of the SEM in Girona, explained that one of the children had severe burns covering his entire body. For this reason, they decided to evacuate him by helicopter to Vall d'Hebron Hospital, the reference unit for treating these types of patients in Catalonia. The other injured student who was evacuated to the same hospital also had serious burns, but in this case they were not as widespread and he was able to be transported by ambulance. Finally, the third student, who had minor burns, will receive treatment at Josep Trueta Hospital.