7 Alabama sixth graders taken to hospital for overheating

Heat tile
Heat tile

WETUMPKA, Ala. (AP) - Seven Alabama middle school students were hospitalized for heat distress symptoms after participating in an outdoor gym class.

News outlets report about 30 students at Wetumpka Middle School complained of being overheated Thursday afternoon while they were walking and running on the track.

Superintendent Richard Dennis says the seven sick students were all sixth graders and they received treatment for dehydration.

One of the hospitalized students told WSFA-TV that the gym was being used for picture day, so the physical education classes were held outside.

The outlet's weather team says the temperature around the time the students became ill was in the low- to mid-90s with a heat index near 100 degrees.

Dennis says the school is investigating.

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