Harbor Psychatric Ward is Moldy - Crestview Courthouse too

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Harbor Psychatric Ward Contaminated

AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS ARE FORCING BALDWIN COUNTY'S ONLY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

UNIT TO CLOSE.

THOMAS HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAID WORKERS FOUND DETERIORATED AIR CONDITIONING

DUCTS AND MOLD GROWING BEHIND THE WALLS AT THE 19-BED HARBOR THOMAS

PSYCHIATRIC WARD.

SOME MOLD SPORES CAN CAUSE DISEASE AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

THE FIVE PATIENTS WHO ARE BEING TREATED IN THE WARD WILL BE MOVED AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE TO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

Does Crestview Courthouse Have Sick Building Syndrome

TESTS ARE BEING DONE TO SEE IF THE OKALOOSA COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN CRESTVIEW

SUFFERS FROM " SICK BUILDING " SYNDROME.

SOME WORKERS COMPLAIN OF RESPIRATORY AILMENTS, HEADACHES, AND OTHER HEALTH

CONCERNS WHILE IN THE BUILDING.

THE AGE OF THE COURTHOUSE, ALONG WITH MOISTURE BUILD-UP AND POOR

VENTILATION, ARE CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND SOME CO-WORKERS ARE AMONG COURTHOUSE

EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS.

Pat Hollarn/Oka. Supervisor of Elections;: " I did, more so this past hear

than any other time. For a while, I could only be there for three or four

hours a day. "

Jim Curry/Dir. of Admn. Services;: " Ventilation issues can be be something

of a problem. When you add that to the age of the facility and some moisture

penetration, that's characteristic of when you have mold spores growing. "

THE ESCAMBIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS RUNNING SOME AIR QUALITY TESTS TO SEE IF

MOLD SPORES COULD BE TO BLAME - BUT MORE INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY.

IF REPAIRS ARE NEEDED, COUNTY LEADERS EXPECT THE WORK TO BE EXTENSIVE - AND

EXPENSIVE.