A Cleaning Crew Mistake Sidelines Several HS Football Players With Severe Burns

SILVER SPRING, Md. (WJZ)—A mistake by a cleaning crew at a Montgomery County high school sends several students to the hospital with severe burns. Now those students -- who are football players -- will be off the field for quite a while.

As Gigi Barnett explains, some parents are outraged that a powerful chemical was used during the cleaning.

When football coaches at Springbrook High School in Montgomery County suspected one of their players had a staph infection last week, the school immediately ordered a deep cleaning of the locker rooms.

Workers used a powerful disinfectant on walls, floors and equipment.

But it led to this for some of the players: first and second degree chest and back burns.

The chemical was also used on the player's pads and helmets.

"Worst pain I've ever been in my life," said Matthew Robinson, Springbrook high student.

Robinson is one of 15 students who felt the chemicals burn during the three-hour practice.

His became infected, sending him to the hospital for several days.

He's off the gridiron now for the rest of the year. And, his mom is outraged.

"It should have never happened," she said.

It happened to Jabal Ray's son too.

The chemical was laced in his shoulder pads.

"He was in great pain. He's 16. I hate to admit this, but he was crying. It was overwhelming," Ray said.

As for Robinson, who is recouping at home. The possibility of a future football scholarship is now in jeopardy.

"I try to think of this positively that this is just a bump," he said.

The school's principal sent a letter home to parents apologizing for the incident. He also said the school will take extra steps to make custodians know how to safely deep-clean the locker rooms.

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