A WOMAN was taken to hospital suffering burns on her neck from a chemical spill at a branch of Boots.
Emergency crews were called to the Boots store in Mansfield Road, Sherwood at around 1.15pm yesterday.
The woman, who was an employee, also got some of the chemical fluid in her eye which had to be flushed out at the scene.
A second person was treated for burns on her hands, but did not need to go to hospital.
The chemical spill forced the store to close and its customers were evacuated.
The immediate area taped off to pedestrians, while fire crews from Stockhill Fire Station contained the spillage.
Three fire engines parked up outside the shop – including one vehicle from the environmental protection unit – and police also arrived to block off one lane of Mansfield Road while work was carried out.
The 999 call for help was made by a member of staff at the pharmacy, after two chemicals had been mixed together and subsequently reacted.
Those chemicals were potassium permanganate – a strong oxidizing agent – and Temazepam – which is an anti-anxiety drug.
When the Post contacted Boots the pharmaceutical giant could not offer any explanation as to why those two chemicals would have been mixed together.
Station manager Kev Cleary, of Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "There's been a chemical reaction. They were mixing two chemicals in the pharmacy when it got out of control."
Passer-by Jaz Spearheard, 42, of Sherwood said: "I'm supposed to be going to the pharmacy for a friend and now I can't – it's quite annoying."
A Boots spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident that has taken place at our Sherwood Boots store and we are cooperating with the local police and fire services.
"The store was closed for a short period this afternoon and should be open for our customers first thing today."
