Fort Bliss officials confirmed that 11 army soldiers were sick after ingesting an unknown ‘alcoholic beverage’. Moreover, two soldiers are currently in intensive care due to ingesting this unknown substance during their field training exercise.
Lt. Col. Allie Payne, public affairs officer for Fort Bliss clarified that initial medical reports indicated that soldiers consumed a substance thinking it was an alcoholic beverage. However, army personnel are prohibited from consuming any alcoholic beverage while on duty. All 11 soldiers belong to the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
This incident occurred on the final day of the 10-day field training exercise at Fort Bliss’s McGregor Range Complex. As per reports, it’s indicated that soldiers are experiencing ethylene glycol poisoning.
Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cleared, Ethylene Glycol is an industrial substance. This component is usually present in hydraulic brake fluids, ballpoint pens, paints, etc.
Allie Payne added that all soldiers arrived at the William Beaumont Army Medical centre after feeling symptoms. The hospital provided them with antidote treatment within the 24 hours. However, two army soldiers are still seriously ill and under intensive care.
As for now, an investigation is currently under progress to check how these soldiers ingested the substance. U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is operating this investigation.
Moreover, the soldiers have shown ‘some improvement’. Hopefully, the medical authorities will release these soldiers from the hospital very soon. Military medical leadership has requested to bring all members of this unit for assessment.