(Fictional) Asbestos Quarantine In Sparta High School

By: Elizabeth Becker

Sixteen students and facility at Sparta High School were quarantined on Thursday, January 21, 2010 due to an asbestos outbreak in room 403. Mr. Troy Tiedens's E-writing class along with assistant principal Mr. Dale Stafslien will be quarantined for 24 hours until 9:40AM on Friday, January 22nd, 2010. The affected were moved to a save environment to be quarantined inside the school and await testing.

A desk was dropped on a tile breaking it allowing asbestos to be exposed, the time at which it was exposed and for how long it was exposed is unknown. After gaining knowledge of the exposure the school contacted emergency response agencies like the national institute for standards and technology, the Fort McCoy Hazardous Material (Hazmat) Team. The Hazmat team also found that there were pipes with wrapping that had come off.. The High School also notified the city of Sparta and Parents of Sparta High School Students. Chief Brian VanWormer, Sparta Asst. Chief Ted Richmond, and Tomah Asst. Chief Larry Woodliff are the people who would be contacted during an outbreak like this.

The schools insurance will cover all medical bills for anyone affected by the asbestos as long as they did not previously have asthma or were exposed to smoking; first or second hand. Anyone exposed to smoke before being exposed to asbestos runs the risk of getting cancer or mesothelioma. Check ups will also be covered by the schools insurance, also covered are medical bills later on in life if problems due to the asbestos breakout at the high school. Students and Staff will be tested to make sure they weren't affected by the asbestos imbedded in lung their lungs. The fibers of asbestos can build up and cause a person to stop breathing. Being provided to the students during quarantine are the necessities such as food and water. Unfortunately there is no cure to rid a person of the fibers. The only way to get asbestos is by breathing in the fibers first hand; its not contagious.

Room 403 is the only room containing exposed asbestos; to prevent anyone else from harm the room was sealed off. This room will not be available for use for several weeks because of the removing of everything down to the concrete and pipes. The next step is to sterilize everything and replace everything with new asbestos free product.

Asbestos was a man made product often used during the 60's; The older part of the building was constructed in 1962. It was a significantly used textile and was very cost effective. Through out the 80's schools had asbestos removed, it was commonly found in gyms. When he product is found in school they don't get into any trouble because its widely used and still found in many products. Other products containing asbestos are cement, shingles, roofing felt, clothing, auto transmissions components in cars, disk pads, break locks, gaskets, and millboard. It was so commonly used because its resistant to heat and keeps it well meaning that its difficult to heat up but once it heated it doesn't radiate the heat. Its also used for fire proofing and acoustic insolation because it controls vibration and sound better. It is not harmful until exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. The only way to come in contact with airborne fibers is by breaking something containing asbestos.

Assistant Principal said "It would be nice to tear everything down and start over new," but the school doesn't have the money to do this. It would cost millions of dollars to rebuild the school. Sparta High School may have a population decrease because of this incident. Parents may feel the need to pull their students out of a school they feel could be "unsafe."