April 10: Air Quality at Oconomowoc High School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCONOMOWOC, WI –April 10, 2018.  Since the evacuation of Oconomowoc High School (OHS) and the Oconomowoc Arts Center (OAC) on March 22, advanced air quality monitoring equipment from Environmental Management Consulting, Inc. (EMC), has been in place inside the building, constantly monitoring air quality.  This monitoring equipment has continued to show 0 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide inside the building, meaning, there is no carbon monoxide inside the building, and there is no equipment leaking carbon monoxide. 

Over the last few weeks, we've participated in several debriefing meetings with Western Lakes Fire District, our local hospitals, the Oconomowoc Police Department, and the Wisconsin Poison Control Center.  All of these organizations continue to confirm that the students in the OAC and OHS on March 22, did not suffer from a carbon monoxide leak within the building.  We have been told that the five reported cases of trace-elevated levels of blood carbon monoxide could have been the result of many factors that have nothing to do with OHS or the OAC.  These same entities have continued to confirm that both the OAC and OHS are safe for regular school and activity operations.

Carbon monoxide detectors are present inside OHS and would alarm in the presence carbon monoxide.

We cannot medically diagnose what made students ill on March 22 but can confirm, based on the expert opinion of EMC, the Wisconsin Poison Control Center, and local medical experts, that it was not the result of carbon monoxide or any other dangerous substance within the building. 

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