Two in hospital following chemical leak in care home

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Housing

Two female members of staff were taken to hospital and nine residents were temporarily relocated following a chemical leak in a care home in Edinburgh.

The staff members suffered from breathing difficulties following an ammonia leak at the council-run home in the early hours of this morning.

Staff, who had discovered a pressurised ammonia leak from a fridge in a downstairs office at Clermiston House in Parkgrove Terrace at 4.14am, raised the alarm.

Three staff members were affected by fumes and were all initially treated at the scene by the ambulance service. Two of them were sent to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for further treatment.

Edinburgh City Council says nine residents were moved from their rooms to a lounge within the care home as a precaution, as is normal procedure for such incidents. No residents were affected by the incident and were able to return to their rooms.

Two firefighters in breathing apparatus ventilated the building and cleaned up the small spillage of ammonia. The fridge was moved into the open air.

A full chemical attendance, including two pumping vehicles and four specialist units, was mobilised by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service to tackle the leak.

Residents were eventually let back into the affected part of the building around 5.30am, once the home had been properly ventilated.

A Council spokesperson said: “We’re grateful to our staff for taking prompt action to deal with this incident and to the emergency services for their response.”