Haz-Mat Lincoln, RI CCRI Campus White Powder Scare March 8, 2013

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Lincoln, RI ~ An envelope was mailed to the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Nursing Program that contained an unknown white powder substance on March 8, 2013.  The envelope was opened and the victim inhaled the product. The staff called 911 and reported that someone suffered an inhalation injury and did not relay the white powder story. A security guard took the envelope from the nursing office on the second floor and walked it through the common areas to the first floor and then outside to meet the responding firefighters.
 
The first responders radioed that they had an unknown hazardous material incident containing an unknown white powder. The regional haz-mat team from Woonsocket FD and a decon team from the North Providence FD responded to assist. The school fire alarm was activated to clear the non-contaminated areas of staff and students. The people that were in the area of the envelope were placed in a room for isolation. 
 
None of the isolated victims were complaining of breathing difficulty as they waited for the teams to arrive. The North Providence Decon Team arrived first and set up the washing station on the South side of the complex near door 2. Woonsocket Fire’s haz-mat equipment pulled up to the decon area and set up for monitoring the hot zone. Technicians donned Level-B exposure suits and SCBA to move in to exam the envelope.
 
A 12-step evaluation process was conducted on the envelope. The substance was determined to be a dextrose-based sweetener. Once the 3rd test on the envelope proved the same results the victims were allowed outside with out needing to be decontaminated.  The RI State Police, US Postal Inspectors, DEM, and the RI EMA also responded to the scene. The case is under investigation.