Yankee Springs Fire Department first responders were called to Middleville Tool & Die on Patterson Road Monday morning on the call of an employee who had passed out.
What happened next turned into a real test of area emergency service agencies ability to handle a large crisis situation. More people become sick, calling for evacuating an entire plant full of employees and finding out what was in the building that was making people sick.
By the time first responders put the first employee into an ambulance, others were complaining of nausea and headaches; 10 to 15 other employees of the plant were treated by first responders and ambulance personnel. Two employees were taken to Metro Health in Grand Rapids as a precaution.
“It worked just like it should,” Deputy Wayland Fire Chief Dan Miller said. “All the agencies did what they’re trained to do; we moved 150 people outside; triage of the patients was done outside and treatment started.
"Barry Central was in contact with Metro hospital at all times, and (director of WAEMS) Bob Hess was in constant contact with Pennock Hospital in case they were needed. There were no glitches.”
The affected people’s vital signs were monitored and they were treated with oxygen until their carbon monoxide levels returned to normal, he said. Wayland firefighters entered the building with carbon monoxide detectors and located the problem; an overcharging hi-lo battery was giving off carbon monoxide fumes. The hi-lo was taken outside and the building aired out, “until it was deemed safe,” Miller said. He noted the emergency personnel had the complete cooperation of the owner of Middleville Tool and Die.
Three fire departments; Yankee Springs, Hopkins and Wayland were at the scene as were ambulances from Wayland Area Emergency Medical Services, Mercy Ambulance of Hastings and Thornapple Township Emergency Services. Emergency personnel were at the scene from 10:45 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
“It’s a good day," Miller said. "The employees felt good and went back to work. The sun is shining, it’s a good day."
