First graders taken to hospital after classmate brings drugs to school

An entire first-grade class was bused to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for monitoring Tuesday after a 6-year-old was spotted with packets that police said likely contained heroin.

The incident happened when a teacher at John Barry Elementary at 59th and Race Streets in West Philadelphia noticed one of her students playing with small plastic packets she had brought to school.

The teacher asked the girl to drop what was in her hands, then evacuated the classroom and called police and paramedics.

The school nurse and paramedics began checking the children, since drugs can be absorbed through the skin. Officials decided to take the entire class of 20 students to the hospital as a precaution, said Officer Jillian Russell, a police spokeswoman.

The students rode to the hospital in a yellow school bus, said district spokesman Fernando Gallard. Their parents were notified and asked to meet the children at Children's.

A letter was sent home with all Barry students notifying parents of the incident.

Charges are likely, Russell said, once officials determine how the child got the 10 packets of drugs.