Ottawa
Stages Nightclub in Kingston, Ont., must meet a list of specific conditions if it wants to host another foam party, following an investigation by public health officials into several cases of eye irritation.
10 people had eyes flushed in hospital after party earlier this month
Dan Taekema · CBC News
· Posted: Apr 24, 2024 1:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 24
The marquee for Stages Nightclub in Kingston, Ont. According to the local public health unit, 10 people who attended a ‘foam party’ at the Princess Street club earlier this month ended up in hospital with irritated eyes. (Dan Taekema/CBC)A Kingston, Ont., nightclub must meet a list of specific conditions if it wants to host another foam party, following an investigation by public health officials into several cases of eye irritation.
Ten people had their eyes flushed by staff at Kingston General Hospital’s emergency department overnight on April 7 and into the next morning after experiencing “chemical eye exposure,” a spokesperson previously confirmed.
Two of those patients told CBC News their eyes began burning and stinging after attending a foam party at Stages Nightclub, a popular bar on Princess Street.
“The pain was just unbelievable,” Bryan Kirkham said at the time, comparing the sensation to someone digging into his eyes.
“Once we got into the hospital, honestly, I’d give [the pain] about a nine out of 10. It was one of the worst pains I’ve felt.”
‘The pain was just unbelievable,’ says man who attended foam partyBryan Kirkham, who attended a foam party at Stages Nightclub in Kingston, Ont., says after he left the club, he couldn’t open his eyes and they ‘started to burn.’
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health said it was investigating and, in a statement Wednesday, said the information it received suggests all of the patients experiencing eye irritation that night had attended the party.
The foam used at Stages Nightclub that night “may have contributed to eye irritation in some patrons,” the health unit said.
Stages did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Public health said the club has voluntarily opted not to host any more foam parties on Princess Street.
However, if it does throw another one, it must meet a list of requirements.
Those include notifying health officials in advance to make sure all equipment is in good working order and consulting the foam manufacturer to ensure all of their instructions are being followed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Taekema is CBC’s reporter covering Kingston, Ont. and the surrounding area. He’s worked in newsrooms in Chatham, Windsor, Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa. You can reach him by emailing daniel.taekema@cbc.ca.
Follow @DanTaekema on TwitterWith files from Sam Konnert and Natalie Stechyson
