By Healthcare Facilities Today

A mistake made by maintenance personnel led to the evacuation recently of HealthLink clients and patients at Memorial Hospital Herbert-Perna Center in Fremont, Ohio.

A gallon of muratic acid was poured into a barrel of chlorine by an employee working in a pool area, according to an article on The News-Messenger website. The chemical reaction created a gas that filled the area.

When the fire department arrived, HealthLink clients and patients at Herbert-Perna Center already were evacuated. Firefighters moved the barrel outside and began ventilation with electric fans, the article said.

Herbert-Perna Center was closed for the rest of the day and reopened the next morning. Andrew Smith, Memorial Hospital’s marketing manager, said the hospital will work closely with the fire department to prevent future issues.

“We want to take a critical look at what we did well as a team, what the gaps are and what we can do better,” Karla Falls, the vice president of ancillary and professional services, said in the article.

Read the article.