White Powdery Substance Identified In Hospital HAZMAT Scare

Courtney Francisco,

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UPDATE: Investigators say the substance in question was dry chemical powder that was discharged from a fire extinguisher.

MATTHEWS, NC — A HAZMAT scare hit a local hospital Thursday afternoon when a woman showed up saying a white powdery substance was burning her skin.

We now know exactly how serious the chemical was.

The patient spoke on camera exclusively with WCCB Charlotte’s Courtney Francisco.
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She says the white powder that covered her body could have been very dangerous, even deadly.
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“My face started burning,” said Ivy Schmitz. “The skin on my whole entire body felt like fiberglass or something, if you can imagine. Just burning, raw burning.”
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Schmitz says she was covered in lye and lime, two chemicals that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says can severely burn the skin and respiratory tract.
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At first, Schmitz didn’t know what was on her. She was simply inspecting a vacant home on Bridle Trail in Indian Trail for a property management company.
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“I go to look down, and my pants, I had black pants on. Well, they’re white. Like, solid white,” Β said Schmitz. Β “As I start stepping, powder just started shooting up out of the carpet.”
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She rushed herself to the nearest hospital, Novant Health in Matthews.
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“It was really, really scary driving here. It was the longest 10 minutes of my life,” said Schmitz. “My skin was just blood red, and I have burns on my legs and my breasts, and it’s really hard to breathe.”
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inside, Novant Health workers immediately decontaminated Schmitz.
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The powder from her clothing touched two employees.
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“So we all immediately had to go into full decon,” said Schmitz.
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That involved several showers, room changes and clothing changes.
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Outside, fire and HAZMAT crews surrounded the hospital.Β 
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Officers were unaware of the seriousness of this powder.
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More than two hours later, Novant Health announced the powder was nothing that would harm the public.Β 
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“That’s probably the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me,” said Schmitz.
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Her car seat is covered with plastic until professionals decontaminate it. The house will stay shut until HAZMAT crews clean up.