More than 30 elementary school children became sick during a South Carolina field trip to a movie theater, turning what was meant to be a long-awaited school outing into a frightening scene for students, parents and staff.
The children, from Eugene Sires Elementary School in Dorchester County, were on a field trip to a Cinemark theater on Ladson Road in Summerville on Monday, May 18, when students began vomiting during the movie. School officials said 32 students were seen by the school nurse by the end of the day, while other reports placed the number of affected children slightly higher.
The cause of the illness has not been confirmed. Health officials have been notified, and the South Carolina Department of Public Health has opened an investigation into what made the children sick.
Movie outing turns alarming as children begin vomiting
The field trip included first- and second-grade students, according to local reporting. Parents and chaperones said the children had been excited for the outing before the mood changed suddenly inside the theater.
One chaperone described a child standing up to say she did not feel well before vomiting moments later. Soon after, more students became sick in the theater, hallways and bathrooms as adults tried to help and keep track of who needed attention.
The incident has drawn concern because of the number of children affected in a short period of time. Reports said about 180 students were part of the outing, with the illnesses becoming apparent after children had been at the theater.
Parents were later told that officials may ask students what they ate or drank during the trip, including whether they had popcorn or soda. Some children who were not initially sick at the theater reportedly developed similar symptoms later.
The latest details reported by WJCL said Poison Control and health officials were notified as authorities worked to determine what happened.
Parents question communication as investigation continues
Some parents have raised questions about how quickly families were told that children had become sick. One chaperone said she believed parents should have been notified immediately once the number of ill students began growing.
Dorchester School District Two said student safety remained its priority and that nursing staff responded quickly. The district also said it would defer to the agencies responsible for determining the cause of the illness.
According to People, the South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed that an investigation had been launched. The same report said the theater had received strong health inspection ratings in previous inspections, including an A rating in its most recent listed inspection.
School-related emergencies can quickly become traumatic for families, especially when parents are waiting for clear information. Swikblog has also covered serious student safety incidents, including a Tennessee school bus crash involving students on a field trip.
For now, officials have not said whether the illnesses were linked to food, drink, a virus, environmental exposure or another cause. Parents have been advised to seek medical attention if symptoms continue or worsen.
The investigation remains active, and families are waiting for clearer answers about why so many children became sick during a routine school outing.
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