A chemical leak inside the Nebraska Medical Center forced the hospital to evacuate its emergency department early Friday morning. Patients and staff were moved to other parts of the hospital, and no one was injured.

Paul Baltes, a spokesman for the Med Center, says a chemical called formalin 10-percent is stored in a tank on the floor above the emergency department. Med Center staff reported a leak in the tank at 3:20 a.m.

Twelve patients and 21 emergency staff members were evacuated to other parts of the hospital. No serious injuries were reported, but some staff members who inhaled the fumes will be checked out.

The leak was quickly contained, and an Omaha hazmat team was called to clean up the spill. Only the emergency department was affected.

The Nebraska Medical Center is normally the designated trauma center on Fridays. The hospital contacted Creighton Medical Center, which agreed to handle trauma cases until employees were given the all clear.

Formalin 10-percent is a form of formaldehyde used for tissue preservation.