Students taken ill after ingesting pills

COVENTRY - School decision makers locked down two schools Thursday afternoon as five center school pupils were rushed to infirmaries after swallowing assorted pills. A 6th pupil didn't necessitate hospitalization.

The pupils showed up in the nurse's business office after luncheon complaining of feeling ill after they took over-the-counter and prescription medication, Police Head Mark Arnold Palmer said.

Fire Department officials, situated across the street, were called and arrived at Capt. Nathan Nathan Hale Center School at 2:08 p.m. Soon after, a school functionary called 911. Officials state the pills likely came from students' homes, and six pupils took about six pills. None lost consciousness, police force said. The pills were aspirin; Naproxin, an anti-inflammatory; Xenical, a diet pill; and tetracycline, an antibiotic. Two pupils were taken to Windham Hospital, two to Manchester Hospital, and one to Rockville Hospital. Officials did not let go of the personal identities of the students, or their conditions. Center school and high school pupils feared the worst as they were told by functionaries over the school's intercommunication system to stay in their concluding time period schoolrooms until additional notice. "We were all just sort of camping out in there, and cipher was really talking," said 17-year-old Lea Jacques. "They didn't state why we were locked down, but said to 'bear with us'. It was sort of scary." Because the incident happened during last period, as pupils were ready to head home, functionaries announced that those with autos could go forth before buses pulled in. But as they left the building, they were called back in for 30 minutes, Jacques said. During the confusion, rumours floated that a shot had happened. "I didn't desire to presume anything," she said. "But a batch of people thought that's what it was." The scene was equally confusing outside in the parking lot, where friends and parents waited to pick up pupils still locked down in the two affiliated buildings. Amy Hyatt, 17, was waiting to pick up Jacques during lockdown and watched as five ambulances left the center school. A routine delay for a friend turned into an eery vigil. "This is very creepy," she said. "The first thing I thought, when I saw the ambulances just now, was 'oh no - there was a shooting'". A voice came over a talker in the parking lot, an decision maker announcing it was all right to go forth the schools. Center school and high school pupils wandered toward waiting cars. Raymond Chandler Anderson, 12, was on his manner place after a unusual twenty-four hours in the 7th grade, he said. While there was a batch of confusion in many parts of the two schools, many at the center school knew what was going on early in the day. Sherwood Anderson said children were talking about a grouping of eighth-graders World Health Organization were caught popping a smattering of pills at the end of gymnasium class, while changing in the cabinet room. School decision makers were meeting this morning time to discourse what, if any disciplinary action would be taken.