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Suspected Soap Mix-Up at Wellesley Daycare Sends 11 Children to Hospitals

Investigators are testing dispenser samples after reports that a commercial dish cleaner was mistakenly used, with reactions described as superficial.

Overview

  • Fire, EMS and hazmat crews declared a Tier 1 response at Bright Horizons on Williams Street late Friday morning and dispatched multiple ambulances.
  • Eleven children, roughly ages one to five, were taken to area hospitals for evaluation after developing redness and minor burns on their hands.
  • Officials say the exposure appears linked to a commercial-grade dish cleaner placed in hand soap dispensers, though the exact substance has not been confirmed.
  • The center was closed for the investigation, unaffected children were picked up by parents and the operator says it expects to reopen Monday pending findings.
  • State Fire Marshal officials and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency were notified as Bright Horizons works with its janitorial vendor to determine what went wrong.