Students Safely Back at School after Accident

All of the five eighth-grade students who were burned in a science class at on Friday returned yesterday.

According to the school’s principal, William Shipp, the accident occurred in an eighth-grade physical science classroom, during an experiment involving hot water in which steam and water sprayed from a flask, striking the students.

The students were struck on their hands, neck and face, suffering mild exposure, according to Laura Rinehart, spokeswoman for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. She added that they were taken to Loudoun Inova Hospital at Landsdowne as a precaution, because the beaker did not explode, and no other chemicals were involved.

“Most of the students returned to school on Friday and all were present today,” Shipp said. “Safety precautions were in place and we have determined what caused this and have modified the experiment to ensure it does not occur again.” 

Shipp added it was a minor accident, and the school would take no disciplinary action.