"Mystery Substance" Identified: Natural Sodium - a.k.a. Baking Soda Component
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Updated: 8:36 AM May 1, 2009
"Mystery Substance" Identified: Natural Sodium - a.k.a. Baking Soda Component
WTAP News
UPDATED: Health officials confirm that the "mystery substance" that prompted Thursday morning's hazmat response was natural sodium, also known as a material used to make baking soda.
Posted: 11:40 AM Apr 30, 2009
Reporter: Bruce Layman, Leslie Cebula
Email Address: news@wtap.com
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Posted by: Lynn on May 1, 2009 at 11:12 AM

Since when has being concerned that your child may have exposed to some, possibly hazardous material become labeled as over protective? How hard would it have been, instead of 'it's merely a precaution', to have added 'no child at the school was ever exposed to this substance'. You people defending their lack of communication to the parents of Martin, and by this I mean who ever made the decision to 'lockdown' this school, is pathetic.
Posted by: Hollyann Location: wv on May 1, 2009 at 10:22 AM

It is amazing to me that parents overreact to everything except the things that they should (their kids getting pregnant, drugs, etc.) Our BOE does a great job taking care of the kids. Catering to over protective parents and conspiracy theory junkies is not their job - creating a safe environment for the students is. When things happen, they must act accordingly and you MUST realize that the BOE has to wait for information just like everyone else - they dont just magically know everything about the situation instantaneously. Get off their case and let them do their job. Keep in mind that, in all that has happened in our schools this past week, NO ONE was hurt. And that is thanks to our school officials, the police, the teachers and everyone else that works with and protects the students.
Posted by: Jon Location: wtown on May 1, 2009 at 06:45 AM

Keep your kids home and school them if you dont trust the BOE.
Posted by: Fred Location: North End on May 1, 2009 at 06:45 AM

The most interesting thing about this story is how a bunch of assumptions quickly became 'facts'. Not one iota of information presented on the news broadcasts was verified. The information concerning the truck was nothing more than a guess. The 'natural sodium' explanation is almost laughable and has not been proven, no matter how many 'officials' agree upon it. Denying parents access to their children during one of these ever-increasing overreactions is appalling and cruel. WTAP and our 'officials' need to be a calming influence with educated explanations during these panics instead of increasing the confusion with muddled information.
Posted by: Lynn Location: Parkersburg on Apr 30, 2009 at 09:13 PM

Dear Bob, No one KNEW or was TOLD that all the kids weren't exposed to some hazardous material! I heard it was a precation, but I NEVER heard that 'no student at Martin was directly exposed'. So YES, the school system OWED it to the parents to INFORM them of this fact! No one wanted them to make 'something up' all they wanted was told WHAT had happened, to whom, they weren't 'misinformed' they were left in the dark!! I agree with Wayne, if they can send out mass calls about a skating party, they can give the parents enough information to rest their thoughts. Not once did I ever hear 'no other children were exposed'. So by all means, yes they had a right to get upset, these are their children. You have so much info you, how did YOU hear it? BTW when it was first reported all anyone knew was hazmat school bus, did you hear what happened at WHS? You never know!Start a tree at each school call so many parents, those parents call so many parents, etc. It isn't rocket science.
Posted by: stephen Location: parkersburg on Apr 30, 2009 at 08:39 PM

when these incidents happen, seems like everyone would have done it better, different, quicker,etc..etc...instead of pointing fingers and complaining and whining, why not be grateful that no one was hurt and everything turned out ok?...
Posted by: h.b. Location: south parkersburg on Apr 30, 2009 at 08:25 PM

First of all I want to commend the emergency response units for a terrific job on handling this situation.I am a 15 yr veteran firefighter for a local volunteer fire dept.To all the parents screaming for answers from the onset of this if you would have listened to the news reports they,at the time,didnt have answers.They didnt even know where the truck was let alone what was in it.These situations dont solve themselves,it takes alot of investigation and precautionary measures to get answers.If you people really knew what went up and down the interstate and RT50 it would scare the hell out of you.Let the professionals do there job,IF there is a need to contact you it will be done without hesitation.And if I may say so we have some of the finest first responders in the state.By the way,did anyone consider the chlorine in the pool for the eye irritation and possibly the high pollen count for the shortness of breath as in allergies.Remember this was only one child with these symptons.
Posted by: Wayne Location: S.Pburg on Apr 30, 2009 at 07:55 PM

''Anonymous:this whole thing is just hilarious!'' I'm glad you think it is funny that our kids was locked down in a school ..And us as parents have the right to know,,it is idiots like you that must be running our school system..I see nothing amusing about it...
Posted by: Wayne Location: S. P.burg on Apr 30, 2009 at 06:39 PM

To anonymous:IT'S NOT RATHER HAVE THEM TWIDDLING THERE THUMBS THEN CALL US,,,IT IS THE FACT THEY FIND THE TIME TO CALL EVERY TIME THERE IS A SKATING PARTY OR THEY WANT MONEY FOR SOMETHING DON'T THEY..AND THEY CALL EVERY PARENT IN THE SCHOOL..LIKE WAS POSTED BEFORE THEY HAVE A PHONE SYSTEM SET UP FOR THIS USE IT..SO I FIND IT NOT UNREASONABLE AT ALL TO CALL US AND LET US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON..
Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 30, 2009 at 06:29 PM

this whole thing is just hilarious!
Posted by: Parent Location: South Parkersburg on Apr 30, 2009 at 06:22 PM

I am a parent of a Martin School student & I agree with what someone else said. The school should have sent out a recording. I tried to call the school & nobody answered. I realize we should stay calm as someone stated but those are our children & we have the right to be informed if they are in possible danger. Not everyone gets WTAP NEWS. All I am saying is a phone recording would have been nice as would a note from the school saying what had happened today.
Posted by: Bob Location: Belpre on Apr 30, 2009 at 05:50 PM

For all of the mis-informed people- actually the parents of the students who were actually on the bus WERE notified and agreed to meet the bus at the hospital. If your kid wasn't exposed- then you didn't need to worry about it and didn't get called. The school system did their job- told the people who NEEDED TO KNOW and left the others out- as they should have. And for all of you who kept screaming TELL US WHAT IT IS- they didn't know at the time you were asking so they couldn't. Want them to just make something up?
Posted by: Curtis Location: Guysville on Apr 30, 2009 at 05:16 PM

Great photos of the hazmat and bus today. Thanks for sharing them with those of us who missed the live coverage this morning.
Posted by: Kevin on Apr 30, 2009 at 04:55 PM

The good news is that this rain shower will wash the baking soda down the sewer drains and make them all sweet smelling and fresh!
Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 30, 2009 at 04:53 PM

I am upset that the school or the BOE should call us and let us know they have our kids on lock down...and why we should not have to find out through bits and pieces over the news after the fact..And Mb if you read my post i did not say i was going to the school mad or to start nothing...I beleave that it should have been handled a lot different...As for trusting them i don't trust their judgement for a min..
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