Farmworkers treated, released from YRMC

All 10 farmworkers who had been transported Friday evening to Yuma Regional Medical Center after a crop duster sprayed them with agriculture chemicals have been released from the hospital.

The farmworkers underwent decontamination and evaluation in the Emergency Department at YRMC.

Nine of the workers were released Friday, Machele Headington, YRMC spokeswoman, reported Monday. One person was admitted overnight and released Saturday morning. None of the injuries were critical.

A crop duster sprayed the farmworkers with the chemicals while they were working in a field west of Avenue G and County 12th Street late Friday.

Emergency personnel with Rural/Metro responded to the scene at about 7:30 p.m. At first they were told only two farmworkers had been sprayed, but once on site the first responders found the “crop duster had also passed over two field worker buses, which gives us 40 more patients,” said Rural/Metro Capt. Don Graham.

Many of the farmworkers were complaining of irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and skin after being exposed to the chemicals.

Because of the large number of patients involved, Rural/Metro was assisted by the Yuma Fire Department and the Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department.

Emergency personnel with Rural/Metro and YFD set up a portable decontamination zone at the site while Yuma County Sheriff's deputies cordoned off the area.

The process of decontaminating each farmworker involved stripping them down and then rinsing them off with a fire hose. The situation was made even more unpleasant because the temperature was in the mid-50s.

After initial decontamination, 10 farmworkers were sent to YRMC for additional treatment.

No further information was available Monday by YFD, Rural/Metro or YCSO.