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Liberty City Students Taken To Hospital After Ingesting Drug

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Half a dozen Miami elementary school students were taken to the hospital after ingesting a medication.

The six students, from Liberty City Elementary at 1855 NW 71st Street, reportedly took the blood pressure medication Clonidine, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

"Apparently the medicine belonged to one of the students and that's how the medicine got passed around between the students," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Captain Robert Betancourt said.

According to Miami-Dade Public Schools spokesman John Schuster, a 5th grade student brought it school.

The drug, which is also used to treat hypertension and ADHD, can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Other side effects include dry mouth and dry eyes, feeling tired, stomach pain, sedation, constipation and headaches.

Betancourt told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "They are all stable but we took them to the hospital as a precaution."

A school police officer said they all walked to the ambulances.

CBS4 was the first news crew on the scene and noticed multiple units from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

"Apparently the event happened about three hours prior to calling 911. We responded, we had enough units to handle the event and they were all transported to Jackson Hospital," said Betancourt.

Schuster said they were all taken to the hospital as precautionary measure and for observation. He added their parents were notified to come pick them up.

Concerned parents showed up at the school after hearing the news.

Janae Brown, who has two children at the school, said, "I received a phone call about kids being rushed to the hospital because of taking some medication. You expect school to go smoothly and you do not expect to get a phone call. I'm very concerned. I take blood pressure medication but I don't put it where kids can reach it. I have a big concern about how these kids got their hands on it."

Laqueesha Fulwood, who has a daughter at the school, said, "I came out here to make sure my daughter's classroom was not involved, that they are not in harm's way. My heart dropped when I heard this. I immediately ran here. I'm speechless about this. This is totally ridiculous, that a child could bring in these things and bring them to school and give them to other children ant it them in harm's way, because everyone reacts differently to different medication."

Shuster said there may be some discipline because it is a violation of the code of student conduct to distribute medication.

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