Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS. : AT THE SCENE : Gas Leak Triggers Evacuation
A reported chemical gas leak caused the evacuation last Tuesday of more than 150 people, including 37 patients, from Anaheim General Hospital.
Seven people--five firefighters and two nurses--were treated for possible exposure to a gaseous mixture of ethylene oxide and chlorodifluoromethane, chemicals used in autoclaves, machines that sterilize surgical instruments. They suffered dizziness, headaches and nausea.
The suspected gas leak was discovered about 1 p.m., and the emergency was declared over at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday.
Later, inspectors said they could find no problem with the hospital’s equipment.
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