GROVE CITY — Five corrections officers and a doctor were taken by ambulance on Monday from the State Correctional Institution at Mercer to Grove City Medical Center, which was shut down upon their arrival.

The individuals came into contact with an unknown substance and required medical treatment at around 2 p.m. Monday after searching a cell and packing inmate property, according to news release from the correctional institution Tuesday.

“One employee required administration of Narcan and was admitted to the hospital,” said Melinda Adams, the superintendent at the correctional institution.

Andrea Shiock, a spokesman for SCI-Mercer, said the officers were searching cells in the facility's restricted housing unit, which is required whenever inmates enter the unit.

She said one of the six employees was unconscious when transported to the hospital.

Joanne Clovis, vice president of marketing and public relations at GCMC, said on Tuesday that per protocol, the entire medical center was shut down and no patients, visitors or employees were allowed in or out between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

She said a decontamination tent was set up outside of the medical center, and the six victims were treated there.

All clothing worn by the victims was bagged and sealed for evidence, Clovis said.

While she could not comment on the conditions of the officers or doctor who were affected, she did say one man was admitted to the medical center. She could not say on Tuesday whether he remained there or was discharged.

Clovis could not recall another decontamination tent being set up in her 14 years of employment at the medical center.

“Our employees performed according to procedure,” Clovis said. “We practice for this kind of thing throughout the year.”

She said the lockdown was canceled at 7:30 p.m. Monday and normal hospital operations resumed after that.

“When you put your skills to the test and it works, it's very gratifying,” Clovis said.