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Dozens of Elementary Students Sickened on Movie-Theater Field Trip

State health officials are investigating a possible link to snacks at the theater as parents press school leaders for clearer, faster communication.

Overview

  • A group of first- and second-graders from Eugene Sires Elementary began vomiting during a Cinemark screening, and Dorchester District Two said 32 students were seen by the school nurse.
  • Chaperones moved sick children into hallways and bathrooms while district nursing staff and EMS treated several students and organized on-site triage.
  • School officials notified Poison Control and the South Carolina Department of Public Health, which has opened a formal investigation into the cause.
  • Multiple local reports say many children became ill shortly after eating theater snacks such as popcorn or drinking soda, though no cause has been confirmed.
  • The theater held an A health-inspection rating in February 2025, and public-health follow-up is expected to include interviews, possible specimen testing, and review of food-handling and facility records.