21 elementary school students poisoned by inhaling gas emitted from exploding balloons

Authorities temporarily seized Ms. Le's explosive balloons (rotten balloons) - Photo: HO GIANG

On the evening of March 22, Tra Cu District Police, Tra Vinh, said the cause of the gas poisoning at Ngai Xuyen A Primary School was due to students inhaling gas emitted from an exploding balloon (also known as a stinky balloon).

Previously, at around 6:30 a.m. on March 20, 8 students from Ngai Xuyen A Primary School (Ngai Xuyen Commune, Tra Cu District) went to the store of Ms. Ha Thi Cam Le (55 years old, residing in Ngai Xuyen Commune) to buy 11 explosive balloons and bring them into class (including classes 3/1, 4/1 and 4/2).

Then the children used their hands to strongly impact the balloon to make it swell up to play, leading to an explosion.

At around 7am the same day, teachers entered the classroom and discovered 21 students showing signs of vomiting and headaches, so they took them to the emergency room.

Upon receiving the information, the Ngai Xuyen Commune Police and Tra Cu District coordinated with the Tra Cu District Medical Center to inspect and determine that the cause of the poisoning was due to the children inhaling gas inside the exploding balloon.

Checking Ms. Le's store, the authorities discovered and made a record of temporarily confiscating 9 You Stink brand explosive balloons of unclear origin and without Vietnamese subtitles for use to be handled according to the provisions of law.

Currently, the health of 21 students of Ngai Xuyen A Primary School is stable and they have returned to school.

Tra Cu District Police said that in the coming time, they will coordinate with relevant agencies to increase propaganda about the harmful effects of explosive balloons in schools and among the people to know, prevent, inspect, and strictly handle cases of trading in goods of unknown origin, especially goods commonly used by children.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/21-hoc-sinh-tieu-hoc-ngo-doc-do-hit-khi-phat-ra-tu-bong-no-20240322195254824.htm