They were dropping like flies.

Students participating in a Remembrance Day service here briefly interrupted the ceremony as one after another began passing out Tuesday morning.

"A few minutes into the ceremony we noticed one student fell over. … A second one fell and it sort of dominoed from there," Scott McKelvie, principal of Lambton Kent Composite School told The Chatham Daily News.

In all, 15 students had either fainted or sat down on their own, McKelvie said.

Ambulances were called and Medavie EMS sent three vehicles to assess and treat the majority of the victims at the scene with the help of school staff, police and fire officials who were on hand for the ceremony.

Steve Pancino, general manager of Medavie EMS Chatham-Kent, described the status of the students as experiencing minor medical distress.

Three students were taken to hospital for further assessment, Pancino said.

McKelvie said the school tradition is for the entire student body and staff to parade with the local Legion colour party to the cenotaph for the Remembrance service.

With last year’s service met by cold temperatures and rain, McKelvie said the students were counselled this year about wearing appropriate clothing.

"It was a sunny day and we were out in the open, marched down and standing for a period of time … may have been a variable," he said.

"We were very fortunate that the incidents that we immediately addressed, we also had the cooperation of the fire department and police service which was there. We teamed up with all three groups to ensure all the students got the best available care at that particular moment," McKelvie said.

Pancino said given the ages of the students it is not uncommon for others to become ill when they see someone vomit and pass out.

Pancino credited the efforts of vice principal Carole Scott, in particular, for her assistance at the scene.

"She monitored the evolving situation as it develop," McKelvie said.

While he strongly believes in having the school participate in the annual service, next year, counselling students about wearing appropriate clothing will be followed up with talking about the importance of eating breakfast, he said.

vicki.gough@sunmedia.ca

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