White substance identified following Hazmat incident at EIRMC

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - UPDATE 1/10/20 11:20 a.m.: The Idaho Falls Fire Department and Regional HazMat Team tested the substance while on scene at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center late Tuesday night. Preliminary tests indicate the substance was Fentanyl, a strong synthetic opioid.

Following additional monitoring and testing, it was determined that no individuals involved with the incident were harmed.

As per protocol, the team contained the substance and sent it to a lab for additional testing and verification.

Those results are still pending.

UPDATE: The Idaho Falls Fire Department cleared the hospital by 12:45 a.m. Friday.

Testing revealed the substance did not pose a risk to staff or anyone else who may have come into contact with it.

Emergency Room operations were maintained throughout the incident.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

According to Coleen Niemann, the community relations director for EIRMC, a patient entered EIRMC's Emergency Room carrying a container of an unknown white substance and said he had ingested it.

Staff isolated the patient and notified on-site law enforcement, who secured the area as a precautionary measure.

Other relevant state agencies were also notified.

Initial air monitoring conducted by the HazMat team indicated no chemicals in the room.

There is no one showing signs or symptoms of chemical exposure.

The team is currently conducting precautionary testing of the substance.

The emergency room is fully staffed and open.

They do not believe there is a threat of exposure to other individuals who did not have direct contact.

There is no threat of exposure in areas where patients are currently being treated.

Out of caution, EIRMC staff who were in direct contact with the patient have been temporarily isolated.

Patients are asked to enter the ER through the west side of the building instead of the main entrance.