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evilsprout Demicabbage of darkness Joined: 27 Jul 2001 Total posts: 1325 Location: Sheffield Age: 33 Gender: Male |
 Posted: 10-12-2002 20:01 Post subject: Mass hysteria in Barnsley? |
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Heard the tail end of a radio news story on the way home. Men in protective suits and masks have been called in to a school in at a school in Hoyland, Barnsley (S.Yorks) after pupils and staff started smelling a "strange smell" which "made them ill".
May of course be wrong cos didn't hear full story, but sounds like it could be mass hysteria to me. Anyone else know any more details? I'll keep my eyes open for further developments. |
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| evilsprout Demicabbage of darkness Joined: 27 Jul 2001 Total posts: 1325 Location: Sheffield Age: 33 Gender: Male |
| Posted: 10-12-2002 20:07 Post subject: |
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OK, should have dug a bit further before posting that (from Barnsley Star ):
| Quote: | School sickness probe
EIGHTY children who attended a Barnsley school plagued by mystery illnesses have been examined by a doctor as part of an investigation into the source of the problem.
A paediatrician, a member of the Royal College of Paediatricians, is recording the history of ailments among youngsters at a health centre in Hoyland, such as asthma, coughs and nose bleeds.
It is expected the health screening will be completed by Christmas and the results may allow doctors to build up a pattern of illnesses which could be linked to the school.
A council spokesman said: "Individual results are given to the parent or carer at the time of examination; a more general report on the overall findings will be made to the school and the investigating team in the New Year."
Earlier this year Market Street was closed and 200 staff and children moved to the Gables school in Wombwell after they developed illnesses including headaches, nosebleeds and tingling lips.
Toxins linked to former coking works and a landfill site are suspected.
But extensive tests by Barnsley Council have proved inconclusive, their results are being analysed by an independent team of specialists which will report back within days.
Meanwhile a firm of solicitors is actively signing up parents and may launch negligence and personal injury claims.
Mum Jennie Ripley, of Wortley View, Blacker Hill, said her eight-year-old son Aaron had been examined and she had informed the doctor of his repeated nose bleeds.
But she said they were more interested in the work of investigative chemist Peter Rossington, who is working for solicitors Horwich Farrelly.
He was finally allowed on to the premises last week after a High Court ruling forcing the council to grant him access.
Filters to check what chemicals, if any, are present have now been removed and sent for testing.
Mrs Ripley said: "We now feel we are going to get answers, it's been a nightmare but one that may have only just begun. It's the not knowing that's so difficult." |
Could be mass hysteria, or maybe not. If not, could still be a Fortean illness. Like I say, will keep my eyes open on this one. |
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| Anonymous |
| Posted: 10-12-2002 20:07 Post subject: |
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| At my school, any strange smell that made you ill was more likely down to the fat kid at the back of the class. |
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| Cult_of_Mana Get that
Conversation Killer Joined: 24 Mar 2002 Total posts: 1040 Location: British Museum Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: 10-12-2002 22:07 Post subject: Re: Mass hysteria in Barnsley? |
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| Evilsprout wrote: |
...pupils and staff started smelling a "strange smell" which "made them ill". |
You want bad smells? Walk into a microbiology lab. We've had people nearly throw up. (Mmmmm, cheap turkey mince:p ) |
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| Anonymous |
| Posted: 10-12-2002 22:15 Post subject: |
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Hey, it's Barnsley. I didn't think they got hysterical about anything in Barnsley, with the exception of street lamps or 'Devil in the Glass' as the locals refer to to them.
I'm going to get lynched, aren't I?
Anyway, it does have all the symptoms (as it were) of classic mass paranoia; this is the time of year for small irritating illnesses etc etc. However, the serious side of this shouldn't be ignored; there have been a number of incidents in this area involving lethal contaminants, left over from an era which was more industrial and less safety concious. Wasn't there a Dioxin scare on the Manor estate a few years back? |
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| NilesCalder Reptilian Overlord
Moderator Joined: 20 Aug 2001 Total posts: 2506 |
| Posted: 10-12-2002 23:26 Post subject: |
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| Adrian Veidt wrote: |
At my school, any strange smell that made you ill was more likely down to the fat kid at the back of the class. |
Oi! I resemble that statement! |
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| Dennis_De_Bacle Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Total posts: 4608 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: 11-12-2002 00:37 Post subject: |
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mmm
Last edited by Dennis_De_Bacle on 16-09-2005 20:47; edited 1 time in total |
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| JamesWhitehead Piffle Prospector Joined: 02 Aug 2001 Total posts: 5779 Location: Manchester, UK Gender: Male |
| Posted: 11-12-2002 00:37 Post subject: |
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Guidance for Teachers, page 127 paragraph 18:
" . . . In the event of it proving absolutely impossible to clench
the buttocks to restrain the evil fish-fart any longer, you should
move slowly and meaningfully towards the least popular child
in the class, let out the fish-fart silently and find a pretext to leave
the area quickly. Ethically, this can be excused because the pupil
will already have hide like an elephant and because the dignity
of your Profession is at stake." 
Last edited by JamesWhitehead on 11-12-2002 00:39; edited 1 time in total |
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| Anonymous |
| Posted: 11-12-2002 02:13 Post subject: |
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Last week of term...
And NOW someone decides to throw up a huge putrid mound of sick in (no, around) the disabled toilets.
I'd say "bloody teenagers one snakebite and thats it" if the college do hadn't been on last night. Who did do the dirty that the poor sods who look after the place have to clean up?
Will the the truth ever be told? I think not... |
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| sjwk0 Great Old One Joined: 21 Oct 2002 Total posts: 560 Location: Oxford Age: 40 Gender: Male |
| Posted: 11-12-2002 02:25 Post subject: |
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At least it was at the toilets - it shows they made the effort... Twice now I've come to work in the morning and not been able to get into my office because of a huge mound outside my door and all down the corridor.
Still, now I've moved to a new office nowhere near the bar, it should be a bit less likely. And even better, the students all went home for Christmas last week...
Steve. |
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