"Heat Related" Emergency at Edison Intermediate

Fire and emergency medical units responded to Edison Intermediate School at about 10 a.m. Wednesday after two students complained of feeling ill due to the heat.

School district spokeswoman Lorre Korecky said that two students complained of heat related illness during this morning's rehearsal for the evening seventh and eighth grade choral concert. The rehearsal was taking place in Edison's auditorium, which is not air conditioned, with outside temperatures cresting to 80 degrees by 10 a.m.

Korecky said that one of the students complained of feeling weak, while the other exhibited more physical signs of heat related illness. According to one of the first responders one of the students passed out from the heat. The two were taken to an air conditioned nurse's office and emergency responders were notified. The students were treated at the scene and transported by ambulance for further medical attention, according to a first responder.

Reports at Edison have other students crowding into the nurse's office following the first two feeling ill. It is not unconfirmed if any of these are heat related illnesses and only two students have been confirmed by the school district to have an illness. The first responder said that eight students were seen by responders with six refusing medical attention.

There are reports of parents picking up children at other schools in town due to the heat.

Korecky noted this evening's concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., has been moved from Edison due to this morning's incident.

"The concert will be held in the high school auditorium, which is air conditioned," she said, noting the concert will feature both choral and orchestra performances.

The responding units included three Westfield fire trucks, paramedics from RWJ Hospital, and two ambulances from the Fanwood Rescue Squad. Korecky said the amount of response was typical for this type of incident at a school. The Westfield Rescue Squad did not respond because the day crew was out on another call.

This is the fourth straight day that temperatures have reached or risen above 80 degrees by 10 a.m.

Editor's Note: Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch Editor Alan Neuhauser contributed to this report.