NEW WAVERLY, Texas – A 15-year old boy was rushed to the hospital by helicopter after he lost consciousness during a hiking trip.
Officials said the boy was on a hiking trip at the Sam Houston National Forest Thursday when he was overcome by heat and passed out.
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"Initial reports were that they were about a half-mile into the woods and the patient was becoming increasingly hot and disoriented..Those are some of the early symptoms of heat exposure, heat stroke," said Jimmy Williams with the New Waverly Volunteer Fire Department.
A supervisor on the trip called for help, and the boy was taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital. His condition was not released.
New Waverly Fire officials said the boy isn't from around the area, and perhaps isn't used to the heat.
"If you have small children, elderly, or anyone with any type of medical condition, you want to look for those warning signs," Williams said. "And those initial warning signs may be as subtle as a slight confusion or disorientation, a rapid heart rate or rapid breathing. In some cases, that can lead to heat stroke."
Williams added that if a person stops sweating, he or she could be going into heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency.