MCCALL - St. Luke's in McCall has been reopened after a scare involving an unknown powder discovered inside the hospital.
The waiting area of St. Luke's McCall Medical Center was shut down Tuesday after an unknown substance was found there.
McCall Chief of Police Justin Williams said two hospital patrons spotted a metal vial on the floor of the waiting area around 2:30 p.m. It was given to a staff member, who opened it and found that it contained white powder.
Williams said the hospital took "universal precautions" after the substance was found. Staff and patrons were moved out of the waiting area, and the air vents were purged and shut off.
The staff member who opened the container was quarantined and treated for exposure, but is OK, officials say.Williams said there were still patients in ER and in rooms as of around 8 p.m.
A hazardous materials team from Boise arrived Tuesday night and was testing the powder to determine what it is.
A St. Luke's spokeswoman said Wednesday morning officials had determined the substance was not dangerous, and the hospital returned to normal operations by 11 p.m. Tuesday.
