About 55 babies and toddlers were evacuated to hospitals after two babies were found unconscious at a private daycare on HaMem Gimmel Street in the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem early Monday afternoon.

Two babies, a three-month-old and a four-month-old, were pronounced dead about an hour after the incident, which was initially thought to have been an incident involving exposure to hazardous materials. The suspicion was later ruled out.

The initial report was received by emergency centers in the afternoon, after the two infants were found unconscious and without a pulse. The infants were sleeping in separate rooms in the daycare. MDA and United Hatzalah teams carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts on the infants while evacuating them to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital, but the doctors there were forced to declare their deaths.

One of the babies, the three-month-old, had been brought to the babysitter for the first time on Monday.

In addition to the two infants, another 53 babies and toddlers were evacuated from the building for further examinations and medical treatment at hospitals in the city. The vast majority were in mild condition and evacuated mainly due to the panic at the scene.

MDA paramedic Fadi Dakidk said, “There was great panic at the scene; babies who were inside the building had difficulty breathing. We arrived quickly and began performing resuscitation on two infants. We provided initial medical assistance to the infants and evacuated them to the various hospitals.”

Upon receiving the report, a serious suspicion arose that a leak of hazardous materials or pesticides caused the babies to lose consciousness. Firefighters and the hazardous materials unit of the Jerusalem District carried out careful monitoring throughout the building and its surroundings using dedicated equipment. The Fire and Rescue spokesperson stated: “The firefighters have completed the monitoring operations. From the tests conducted, no values of hazardous or toxic substances were identified at the site.”

Following the ruling out of the hazardous materials suspicion, the assessment is growing that this was a tragic coincidence or another medical cause, but all directions are being examined.

The Jerusalem District Fire and Rescue commander, Chief Superintendent Shmulik Friedman, ordered the establishment of a special emergency team to examine the circumstances of the unusual incident. The Jerusalem Police have also opened an intensive investigation in order to understand what caused the sudden deaths of the two infants.

According to reports, the daycare was operating without a license. Three of the babysitters were detained for questioning.

United HatzalahMendy Ashkenazi and Akiva Angel, United Hatzalah medics, said, “At first we performed resuscitation on a four-month-old infant who had lost consciousness, and afterward we were informed that another four-month-old infant was also unconscious. We performed resuscitation on them, and afterward they were evacuated in critical condition to hospitals. In addition, with the help of other medics and a United Hatzalah intensive care team, medical assistance was provided to several additional children and toddlers who were conscious from the same kindergarten. Dozens of children from kindergartens in the area and in the building were evacuated.”

The police spokesperson stated: “Jerusalem District police officers were called to HaMem Gimmel Street in Jerusalem following a report of suspected hazardous materials, as well as the evacuation of a daycare and life-saving actions on several babies.

“The officers, together with firefighters, are working to evacuate the building. Police are calling on the public to avoid coming to the area, to allow emergency and rescue forces to operate, and to keep traffic routes clear.”

The Fire and Rescue Service for Israel, Jerusalem District, stated: “The 102 emergency center received a report of a hazardous materials incident at a kindergarten on HaMem Gimmel Street in the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem.”

“Firefighters from the HaUma station, together with the district hazardous materials unit, were dispatched to the scene and are currently monitoring the site and ruling out the presence of dangerous substances in the vicinity of the kindergarten. Medical teams at the scene are performing resuscitation on two children.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)