Eighteen guards and other staff at a central Illinois prison were rushed to hospitals Wednesday after they fell ill while responding to one or more inmates who were suffering from “serious discomfort,” according to a prison spokesperson and a representative of the department. prison employees union.
Employees at the John A. Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro became ill while responding to a “medical incident involving individuals in custody who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance,” state Department of Corrections spokeswoman Naomi Puzzello said. , in a statement to The Associated. Press.
Corrections officers and other staff who responded to the emergency call fell ill, some violently, when they approached the affected inmates, said Anders Lindall of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 31, a union of employees, to the PA.
“Those who were in close proximity to the inmate immediately suffered a variety of symptoms: lightheadedness, dizziness, vomiting or nausea,” Lindall said.
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Authorities said 18 prison employees required treatment at area hospitals. An undisclosed number of inmates received treatment at the prison’s health care unit about 65 miles northeast of St. Louis.
These undated Google Street View images show the John A. Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, Illinois.
(Google Maps)
FOX 2 St. Louis described the situation as a possible “mass overdose” among inmates, citing a law enforcement officer who told the station a call was made between local agencies for NARCAN to be brought to the prison. It was not immediately clear what drug was suspected of causing the sudden illness that plagued the guards after exposure.
An Illinois State Police hazmat team is investigating, Puzzello said.
“All staff members who might have found the unknown substance have also been sent to a local hospital, as a precaution. All staff are currently stable and many have already been released,” Puzzello said.
Many staff members received care at the Hillsboro Area Hospital.
This file photo shows an offender holding steel cage cell bars.
(iStock)
As the facility reached capacity, others sought treatment at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, 10 miles to the west. Most were released, but several were kept for observation and tests to determine the cause, Lindall said.
“Hillsboro Area Hospital has provided care for patients who have been transported from the Graham Correctional Center,” a hospital spokesperson told FOX 2. “Hillsboro Area Hospital received eight patients. All patients are in currently in stable condition and will continue to be monitored as needed. 911 homepage sent around 2:38 pm, and this is an ongoing situation. Hillsboro Area Hospital implemented our mass influx plan. All persons transported received immediate attention, including decontamination. The Hillsboro Hospital Management Team would like to thank our team members, local EMS, law enforcement and county EMA for prompt assistance.”
This image shows an aerial view of the John A. Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, Illinois.
(Google Maps)
The AFSCME state council has expressed growing concern about prison employees’ contact with hazardous substances.
“The problem of exposure to harmful substances in prisons is increasing,” Lindall said, adding that prisons need better records. “AFSCME has been sounding the alarm for months to tighten protocol for both incoming mail and visitor screening.”
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Lindall said a union meeting was taking place at the prison when the call went out and members broke up the meeting to transport colleagues to the hospital, alert family members and provide other assistance.
The Graham Correctional Center is a medium security lockup for adult males, which opened in 1980 with space for 1,596 inmates. The prison currently houses 1,328 inmates.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
