At least five children have suffered chemical burns after a corrosive product was used on a water slide instead of detergent at a Christchurch childcare centre.
RNZ understands the children and two adults have been taken to hospital from Kindercare in Woolston, one of whom is in a serious condition and the others in a moderate condition.
Woolston senior station officer John Herriot said a corrosive product had mistakenly been used instead of detergent on a makeshift waterslide.
"The teachers have had a waterslide - bit of fun for the kids - out the back today and at some point of time some detergent's unfortunately been misidentified and a corrosive product has ended up on the slip and slide. This has caused some irritation to the children's skin and some light blistering.
"We've just responded with our specialist hazmat response along with ... St John to resolve the issue."
Herriot said the chemical was a corrosive agent which could be used as a type of detergent, but was "used in the wrong situation" on this occasion.
St John said it was alerted to the incident at the Kindercare daycare at 1.13pm.
In total, 40 patients were assessed and those that were not taken to hospital are uninjured, it said.
A parent told RNZ that a number of children had been affected by a chemical used to clean a slide. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
"Eighteen units responded, nine ambulances, three rapid response units, five operations managers and one Major Incident Support Team vehicle," St John said.
St John national operations manager Chris Harrison said the patients had suffered chemical burns and blisters.
"They were on a kids' playground slide, which the product had been poured down, and then they've slid down the slide and then the teacher that was injured was at the base of the slide in a paddling pool," he said.
Parents were "pretty upset but pragmatic about the situation", Harrison said.
"The childcare facility has responded well, and as a result, the parents haven't been as carried away as some may expect."
In a statement, the Kindercare confirmed the substance involved was a chemical detergent used in the centre's kitchen steriliser unit, which staff had mistakenly believed was dishwashing liquid before pouring it onto the slide for a "slip 'n slide" activity.
They said all children involved were immediately showered after the exposure. The centre was placed into lockdown, the area was cordoned off, and parents of the affected children, as well as all other families at the centre, were notified.
The organisation expressed "deep regret", saying it was "shocked that this incident occurred and children entrusted to our care were harmed".
It said its priority was ensuring the children and employees received the medical care and support they needed.
A full investigation would take place.
One mum, Nikita Wagstaff, said her daughter suffered a small burn to her hand, but was otherwise ok. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
One mum, Nikita Wagstaff, said her daughter suffered a small burn to her hand, but was otherwise ok.
Fire and Emergency had sent firefighters from two stations.
A spokesperson said a hazmat unit had been deployed as a precaution.
An RNZ reporter at the scene saw children being loaded into an ambulance.
A parent, who has a child at the centre, told RNZ that three children had been affected by a chemical used to clean a slide.
The parent did not know what the chemical was and their child was not affected.
RNZ has approached the childcare centre, but staff refused to comment.
WorkSafe confirmed is in contact with Kindercare in Woolston.
"We have opened an investigation and will attend the scene to gather evidence and understand the circumstances," a spokesperson said.
One person has been taken to hospital in a serious condition from a childcare centre in the Christchurch suburb of Woolston. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
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