3 TREATED AT JRMC AFTER REACTION TO GEAR FROM IRAQ

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

A Pine Bluff Arsenal worker and two paramedics were treated at a local hospital Wednesday night after reacting to Army gear from Iraq.

The Arsenal employee was unloading chemical protection equipment about 6:30 p.m. when he developed a rash and severe itching, possibly from what spokeswoman Barbara Slifer termed "dust or other foreign substances."

An ambulance was called and both crew members began suffering similar symptoms while en route to Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

"One of them developed a dermatological reaction to the patient and one of the paramedics broke out in a rash while transporting the patient," Kenneth Starnes, chief executive officer of Emergency Ambulance Services Inc., said.

All three were treated at JRMC's emergency room, said Julie Bridgforth, a spokeswoman for the hospital.

All three were decontaminated, Bridgforth said, along with the ambulance. The Arsenal worker was held for observation.

Bridgforth said that the physician told her that there was no evidence of chemical exposure.

Slifer and Jefferson County emergency authorities all said the incident involved military equipment from the Middle East that had no relation to chemical weapons stored at the Arsenal awaiting destruction.

"I want to stress again that this was not nerve agent related and the people at the Arsenal let us know what was going on every step of the way," Wally Hunt, coordinator of the county Office of Emergency Management, said.

Slifer said the Army was investigating what triggered the reactions.

"One of the missions of the Arsenal is to store chemical protection equipment," she said. "This equipment was shipped in a sealed metal container and there was certainly dust and other stuff on it."

Slifer said it appeared something inside the container was to blame.

"It's not uncommon for people to come into contact with things that would be harmless to locals but could cause problems for people who are not used to them," she said.

Hunt described the incident as "nothing to worry about."

Starnes said the ambulance crew was able to get the patient to JRMC without assistance and both paramedics were treated, then released.

"We gave them the rest of the night off," he said.