Middle schoolers hospitalized after ingesting pills

Five students at Albany Middle School were hospitalized after apparently taking pills Wednesday morning, fire and school district officials said.’

Firefighters responded at about 11:15 a.m. to a medical call at the school at 1259 Brighton Ave. and ended up taking five students to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Albany Fire Capt. Dustyn Wiggins said. Wiggins said the students are expected to survive.

Albany Unified School District officials said the students ingested pills. School officials did not specify what pills were taken, but said the students’ parents and the Police Department were notified.

School district officials said they will reach out to the families to ensure that counseling services are made available and will increase counseling services at the school.