More than 20 middle school students were rushed to Dolly Parton Hospital after an evacuation over a possible bomb threat. Officials at Carter Middle School in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, are now under fire from parents.
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A Bomb Threat Was Written On a Bathroom Wall
As reported by PEOPLE, students at the middle school were moved to a football field the morning of Sep. 4 after a threatening message was written on a wall in one of the facility's bathrooms, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
The KCSO says the message was reported at 9:56 a.m. Nearly 30 minutes later, "students were relocated to the football field." More than an hour later, "students were permitted to reenter the school."
As nearby residents know, the area is under an intense heatwave. The National Weather Service recorded a heat index of over 100 degrees, and students were outside as authorities swept the school with a K-9 unit.
Officials at the school agree with the KCSO's timeline. They added that students had access to water and shade.
Parents Disagree With the School's Account
A Facebook user claiming to be a parent of a student disagreed with the KCSO and Knox County Schools' account of the
events."My daughter NEVER got water, most that did got a small cup, about 2 sips is what I was told. The field house is shade, but not air conditioned, and too small for more than a few people at a time," the post read. "Third, the students were not outside for just an hour, they were out there at least an hour and a half, maybe more."
Another parent shared her experience with a local television station. She went to the school to sign her child out of class. She noticed "students that were traveling across the road just started dropping."
The parent told officers on the scene she was a nurse. She began to help because "there was no medical personnel" to treat the students.
"One of the child that was in more critical condition, her heart rate was 243 beats a minute," she said. "I'm dumping her whole body with water, the whole thing over her clothes and everything."
She added, "And I'll never, ever forget the face of this child that looked up to me and said: 'Am I going to die?'"
Knox County Schools Superintendent John Sysewyk said staff acted swiftly during the incident. He did admit that "the heat exacerbated an already difficult situation" but that the "onsite medical professionals responded immediately and any students expressing concern were transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution."
Three of the 21 students admitted to Dolly Parton Hospital were in critical condition. There is no update on their condition at this time.
