Tear Gas Mishap Shuts Emergency Room
Two women cleaning a garage set off a tear gas canister Tuesday, and their contaminated clothing prompted closure of the hospital emergency room where they were treated.
The emergency room at Downey Community Hospital remained closed more than three hours after the women were brought in. Emergency workers suffered eye irritation from the gas, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Downey Fire Department spokesman Fernando Delatorre said the women found the “baseball-shaped” canister with a pin as they cleaned out a garage on Cord Avenue about 9:30 a.m.
“One lady pulled the pin and it detonated and expelled an irritant,” later determined to be tear gas, Delatorre said.
The women suffered only minor injuries.
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