I wonder how many times this happens to normal people
So Friday was a fun day at work. I got there a little early, bought a coffee and set to work on our staff meeting, helping to lead the discussion and generally having a good time. Then about fifteen minutes after the meeting started we heard this announcement over the PA system "Code 10 in the lobby, Code 10 in the lobby!"
Having been in this building for a while we all pretty much know what that means. Someone has fallen ill, passed out or something major has happened to them. But since it's none of us, we continue with our meeting and a few minutes later there is another announcement.
"Code 10 in the women's restroom! We need some help in the women's restroom on the 5th floor!"
We all pause for a moment and look at each other. The restroom is just outside the conference room. But, again, there's nothing we can do about it so we go back to work. Then comes the final announcement.
"Everyone on the 5th floor please evacuate the building. Please proceed as quickly as possible outside immediately!"
So we all abandon our computers and our remaining agenda items and file outside. As soon as we leave the room there is the immediate smell of an electrical fire and about six people are being wheeled out on stretchers. That's when we all start to get a little scared. Okay, more than a little.
And though we have been evacuated from the building several times before, this is the first time we have actually made it into the papers: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/07/20-workers-sickened-parker/
It's not a huge article or anything really important, but it was still enough to get us all excited when we came back into the building. From what I was able to find it out it seems like a motor in the HVAC system caught fire and people were passing out and vomiting from the fumes. Since we were all in our staff meeting in another part of the building none of us were affected. However, when we were allowed to come back into the building we all started getting sick again and pretty much the entire team was sent home.
At about 3:30 I told my manager I had a really bad headache and was feeling dizzy and he told me in no uncertain terms that I was to go home. Pretty much everyone had gone home by this point so I was hesitant, but he said I absolutely had to go home and that there was no choice left in the matter for me. I guess they didn't want me to pass out or sue or something.
Interesting day...hopefully they'll clear everything out this weekend and we'll all be OK when Monday rolls around. I just hope the people who got taken to the hospital are all right and got to enjoy their weekend.
Having been in this building for a while we all pretty much know what that means. Someone has fallen ill, passed out or something major has happened to them. But since it's none of us, we continue with our meeting and a few minutes later there is another announcement.
"Code 10 in the women's restroom! We need some help in the women's restroom on the 5th floor!"
We all pause for a moment and look at each other. The restroom is just outside the conference room. But, again, there's nothing we can do about it so we go back to work. Then comes the final announcement.
"Everyone on the 5th floor please evacuate the building. Please proceed as quickly as possible outside immediately!"
So we all abandon our computers and our remaining agenda items and file outside. As soon as we leave the room there is the immediate smell of an electrical fire and about six people are being wheeled out on stretchers. That's when we all start to get a little scared. Okay, more than a little.
And though we have been evacuated from the building several times before, this is the first time we have actually made it into the papers: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/07/20-workers-sickened-parker/
It's not a huge article or anything really important, but it was still enough to get us all excited when we came back into the building. From what I was able to find it out it seems like a motor in the HVAC system caught fire and people were passing out and vomiting from the fumes. Since we were all in our staff meeting in another part of the building none of us were affected. However, when we were allowed to come back into the building we all started getting sick again and pretty much the entire team was sent home.
At about 3:30 I told my manager I had a really bad headache and was feeling dizzy and he told me in no uncertain terms that I was to go home. Pretty much everyone had gone home by this point so I was hesitant, but he said I absolutely had to go home and that there was no choice left in the matter for me. I guess they didn't want me to pass out or sue or something.
Interesting day...hopefully they'll clear everything out this weekend and we'll all be OK when Monday rolls around. I just hope the people who got taken to the hospital are all right and got to enjoy their weekend.