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5 Harvard Elementary students hospitalized after smoking vape pen they found on field trip

By Sun-Times Media Wire
Updated  May 31, 2023 9:08pm CDT
Gresham
Sun-Times Media Wire

5 students taken to area hospitals after vaping at Chicago elementary school

Five children were transported to the hospital from a Chicago elementary school Wednesday afternoon after vaping in the building.

CHICAGO - Five students at Harvard Elementary School in Grand Crossing were hospitalized Wednesday after finding a vape pen on a field trip, officials said

About 1:50 p.m., paramedics responded to the school at 7525 S. Harvard Ave. and took five children about 9 to 10 years old to area hospitals for "drug-related reasons," according to a spokesperson with the Chicago Fire Department.

The students found the vape pen on a field trip Tuesday and smoked it during gym class, Chicago police said. They were hospitalized after someone found them "laughing uncontrollably," Chicago police said.

The students were all listed in good condition, authorities said.

Area detectives were investigating.

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The principal of the school released a statement, that read, in part: 

"Safety is always my top priority, which is why I am writing to notify you of an incident that took place at our school. Today, we discovered that a small number of members of our school community were believed to have been vaping in our school building. We immediately secured the vape device and notified the CPS Office of Safety and Security for support. We are responding to this matter in accordance with CPS policies. While I cannot provide further details for privacy reasons, please know that we are taking this situation extremely seriously."