Pepper spray mishap sends 7 middle schoolers to hospital

Pepper spray mishap sends 7 middle schoolers to hospital

2026-10-15

A group of middle school students on Wednesday learned not to play with dangerous chemicals, after a mishap with a pepper spray that sent seven students to the hospital. The incident happened during recess, when two students were messing around with the weapon. The spray was accidentally triggered and seven students inhaled the gas. Let’s hear more.

Director of student affairs
Middle school
They were playing with the spray yesterday. From what we know, they weren’t spraying it directly at anyone, just into the air. Perhaps then it drifted into the classroom, where the students inhaled it. It’s a very irritant chemical.

Chang Chiung-sheng
Pingtung County Education Department
The school has arranged counseling sessions with the class. We have asked the school to ramp up security measures, and educate students on the use of protective equipment.

Chen Chien-chih
Paochien Hospital Emergency Physician
Usually the effects of the spray don’t last long. It wears off in about half an hour. The four kids who were brought in yesterday were experiencing throat pain. Their throats appeared a bit red and inflamed.

The school does not prohibit students from carrying pepper spray for self-defense. These products often contain chemical irritants such as capsaicin, tear gas or mustard essential oil. When sprayed as a mist, the substances can cause severe coughing, a burning sensation in the throat and choking if inhaled. They may also cause dizziness and eye irritation. The school says it will teach students about the substances, emphasizing the proper use of such products and their potential risks.

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#pepperspray #school #pingtung #middleschool #schoolife

屏東某校園"誤觸防狼噴霧" 7學生緊急送醫

2026-10-15

屏東一所中學，週三有學生誤觸防狼噴霧，導致七名學生吸入身體不適送醫。據了解，當時正值下課時間，兩名同學玩樂時其中一人誤觸噴霧開關，所幸學生們送醫後，均沒有大礙。

[[學校學務主任]]
“他們昨天在玩，了解是這樣，兩個在玩，不是對著人噴的那種，只是說噴在空氣中，然後可能流到教室裡面去，然後學生(吸入)......因為蠻刺激的。”

[[屏縣府教育處學務科科長張瓊升]]
“學校已經進行了班級輔導，本府也請學校要落實校園安全，與防護用品的衛教宣導。”

[[寶建醫院急診科主任陳建志]]
“那原則上其實它的藥效其實很短，對我們人體的影響，大概半個小時就會過去。昨天那四位小朋友其實來，都有些喉嚨痛的症狀，看起來喉嚨是稍微紅一點點，可能真的有一些刺激的症狀。”

雖然學校沒有禁止學生攜帶防狼噴霧，但由於防狼噴霧通常含有辣椒素、催淚瓦斯、芥末精油等化學刺激物，透過霧狀等方式噴射出來，若吸入可能會導致強烈咳嗽、喉嚨灼熱與嗆傷，甚至頭暈或是雙眼刺痛。學校也將持續加強學生安全教育，宣導此類物品的正確使用觀念及相關風險。

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TV host, Kevin Tsai recently made a discrete appearance at Puma Shen’s campaign event. The move earned him criticism from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, who said he was a two-faced person. Tsai promised to attend Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s ceremony at his campaign headquarters as well. Now that he received the invite, he posted a message on social media saying in advance that he would only watch and not go on stage. He also brought up Janet Chia’s Dior jacket controversy as a reason for him to dress in a simple black suit.

Kevin Tsai’s cameo at Puma Shen’s campaign headquarters ceremony made headlines, but to even the field, he agreed to attend Mayor Chiang’s event as well. In a recent post, however, he stated there were conditions to his attendance.

Tsai shared an article that mentioned that the attendees of Chiang Wan-an’s campaign headquarters inauguration would sing campaign songs together. Tsai, commented that as a guest, he would simply cheer everyone on from his seat. He added that, since he made no contributions, he wasn’t qualified to participate in the song and dance segment. He also referenced Janet Chia’s Dior jacket drama as a reason to wear a black suit, which prompted Chia to reply and say “No, you should wear the most sparkly one!”

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
We should respect everyone’s clothing and wearing. There were no requests or invitations for Kevin Tsai to come on stage. We would welcome him to participate and arrange for him to be in the VIP area.

Kang Jen-chun
Media personality
Election culture is that, if you stand on someone’s stage, it indicates support. Why would Kevin Tsai, with nothing better to do, deliberately say, “I will not go on stage to sing Taipei Encore?”

Tsai’s public remarks caused netizens to become investigators. Some joked that the black suit is meant for funerals. Some even became fashion translators, suggesting his clothes meant “please sit still and do not approach me.” Locals discussed this enthusiastically, but China’s Taiwan Affairs Office was furious, labeling Tsai as a two-faced person.

Chen Binhua (Oct. 14)
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory, any force or any person cannot reap the benefits of the Mainland while colluding with pro-independence forces in Taiwan and acting two-faced.

Liang Wen-chieh
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council
All I can say is the CCP can’t let go of Puma Shen. Kevin Tsai is only a scapegoat, the CCP would obviously not want Taiwanese people to have the freedom of choice. They thought it would help Mayor Chiang, but I think it’s making matters worse. They need to be careful before they harm someone’s life.

With the mayoral elections looming, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office is also turning up the heat which may be doing more harm than good.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#ccp #chiangwanan #pumashen #kevintsai #dpp #janetchia

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Doctors address treating drug addiction amid campaign controversy

Incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has been targeting his opponent Puma Shen by attacking a drug policy he wrote 12 years ago. However, as argued, data show that prescribing drug users methadone and providing them with clean needles has effectively reduced reoffending rates. Doctors also note that patients must undergo strict screening before being prescribed methadone.

Drugs have become a political battleground in Taiwan.

Chiang Wan-an
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Legislator Shen advocates for handing out drugs and needles at community centers.

Puma Shen
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This amounts to outright stigmatization. I will take legal action because this is purely spreading false rumors.

Medically speaking, what’s the best treatment for drug addiction? One former drug addict, Hsiao Tzu, spent time at a rehab center. Her depression and hopelessness fed her addiction.

Hsiao Tzu
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I was mentally addicted, not physically. I really wanted to use drugs when I was sad. If I couldn’t sleep, I would use.

But quitting a drug addiction is extremely challenging. Looking back on past drug cases, the rate of relapse is astoundingly high.

Lin Min-chieh
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Because the body gets addicted to drugs, people may think that someone can quit in seven to 10 days. But some addictions aren’t so easy to quit, and they’re psychological. If you detain a person for three or five days, or even six months, the first thing they do when they get out is use.

Ministry of Justice data shows that in 2005, about 50% of all inmates were imprisoned for drug use, and 70% of them relapsed within two years. That year, Taipei launched a program to treat drug addiction with methadone and provide clean needles. More recent data shows that now only 24.8% of inmates are imprisoned for drug use, and the relapse rate has dropped to around 35%. From 2023 through June this year, Taipei issued over 930,000 clean needles, and four hospitals in the city have been providing methadone treatment.

Huang Ming-chyi
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Access to methadone at the pharmacy window is strictly controlled. We use facial recognition to verify patients’ identities when they arrive. The medication is colored, so we check their mouths to make sure they’ve swallowed it.

Medical professionals emphasize that drug harm reduction programs do not encourage or condone drug use. They urge these policies not to be taken out of context or be used as a political campaign tool.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#drug #druguse #drugaddiction #addiction #relapse #treatment #rehab #Taipei #campaign #TaipeiMayor #election

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Rescuers find man missing since Tuesday in Pingtung mountains

A desperate search, and a NT$1 million reward. A 36-year-old company executive who vanished in the mountains of Pingtung on Tuesday, has finally been found. Mr. Shin was rescued from the bottom of a steep slope at Timur Art Park in Sandimen, after more than a day of search efforts. His family had announced a reward of NT$1 million to find him, and now that he’s safe, a friend of his says the reward money may be donated to the rescue teams.

A rescue squad is hard at work at Timur Art Park in Pingtung’s Sandimen. They hold on tight to the ropes as they approach Mr. Hsin, who fell down the slope.

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He had scratches on his left hand, and bruises on his knees. He couldn’t move very much, but he was conscious.

Voice of neighbor
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I think he doesn’t live here, he comes here for work.

Mr. Hsin is 36 years old and the vice president of a bathroom company from Spain in Kaohsiung. He went missing on Tuesday, after leaving his home by car. His family tracked his cellphone location, and found his car at Timur Art Park in Sandimen. The car keys were on the car, but Mr. Hsin was nowhere to be found. His desperate family put up a reward of NT$1 million to for anyone who found him.

Voice of Mr. Hsin’s friend
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The police and fire fighters have found him just know. We should donate the NT$1 million to the rescuer agencies. We’ll see what we do after he’s settled in.

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Designer-clad Taipei 101 chair sparks debate over professionalism

Who would have thought that dressing well for a public appearance would garner backlash? Taipei 101’s Chairwoman, Janet Chia certainly didn’t. On Wednesday,
Chia paid a visit to the Legislative Yuan, but her attire is what stole the spotlight. She wore a black dress with a cream-colored Dior jacket draped over her shoulders, which prompted a legislator to ask her to dress more “simple” like everyone else. The tense exchange even resulted in President Lai Ching-te posting on Facebook in support of Chia, underscoring that professionalism isn’t judged by clothing.

Lai: Chairwoman Janet, Taipei 101 represents trends and fashion.
Chia: Yes.
Lai: I’d also like to advise you to next time, next time, please dress the same as us, simple.
Chia: I’m wearing the same as you all, same full-sleeves.

On Wednesday morning, a small standoff broke out at the Legislative Yuan as Taipei 101’s Chairwoman Janet Chia arrived for questioning. She was singled out by DPP Legislator Lai who felt her attire was not “simple” enough.

Lai: I think within the Legislative Yuan, there should be a standard
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Chia showed up in a black dress with a cream Dior jacket, and Chanel earrings and attempted to justify her attire but was interrupted again.

Chia: But I am definitely...
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Chia had barely finished a sentence when she was interrupted about her jacket, which she later wore to another event that afternoon.

Janet Chia
Chairwoman of Taipei 101
I don’t think I’ve been wronged, honestly speaking; I was just stunned because I really don’t know there was a dress code for going to the Legislative Yuan. I also asked a few other chairwomen if there was a dress code or I needed to buy clothes and they said there really wasn’t.

Chia displayed a calm demeanor but admitted that the exchange affected her mood. Ever active on social media, she personally broke down her outfit that evening. Besides her Dior jacket, she also wore a Cartier bracelet, Ferragamo shoes, and a Dior watch she’s had for 30 years. Her lighthearted and charming response catalyzed even more discussion online, with many flocking to Lai’s social media demanding an apology. Faced with public pressure, she posted a video that evening.

Lai Hui-yuan
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Lee Yang
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I had bought a nice suit then, and I hoped that such a nice suit would be respectful to wear to the Legislative Yuan, I thought it looked good on me.

Huang Chieh
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Actually, I think, Janet Chia represents fashion. She has her own way of expressing respect to the Legislative Yuan. I believe that everyone would appreciate that.

Chen Pei-yu
Legislator (DPP)
Lai Hui-yuan already publicly apologized, also posted and recorded a video, so I think this resolves it and concludes the matter here.

Chia clearly eased matters over by posting an AI-generated photo of herself and Legislator Lai dressed up and shopping, with the caption, “Dior should pay us an endorsement fee. Shopping sprees are justified and life is beautiful.” As the chairperson of Taipei 101, Chia also represents high-fashion and never misses an opportunity to show up and show out.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Four huskies sprint down the fast lane as the drivers around them scramble to slam on the brakes.

When they get to this intersection, they make a sudden turn down the crosswalk.

Member of public
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Kao Chen-li
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Negligence or letting animals roam freely on the street to the detriment of traffic carries a fine of NT$300 to NT$600 for the owner or responsible party.

These four silly huskies darting through traffic looks like it’s straight out of an animated movie, but real life is no cartoon. They thankfully didn’t cause an accident this time, but it left the drivers thoroughly shaken.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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