Smoke From Hand Dryer Sends Two Students To Hospital

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two children were sent to the hospital after a school prank led to smoke inside a school on Friday.

According to the Chicago Fire Department, students at Taylor School, 9912 Avenue H, stuffed paper towels into a hand dryer and when the paper became hot the dryer started to emit smoke.

There was no fire, but two children were transported to the hospital.

One was treated for asthma symptoms and another for hyperventilating.

Alyssa Torres, student: "My cousin, she was panicking, she couldn't breathe. So the ambulance came for her and then I got scared and was crying. My friends were crying too."

The school was evacuated, with many parents hearing about it through word of mouth.

"My cousin knocked on door and said 'fire at Taylor school' and told me to come pick up the girls," said parent Marbella Alfaro.

However, when firefighters arrived there was no fire, but smoke from the dyer.

A total of 14 other children were examined at the scene but did not require further treatment.

Those students were picked up by their parents.