Foundation continues focus on hydration
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tragedy led Rhonda Fincher to her position as the director of the nation's only foundation that focuses exclusively on hydration and heat-related illnesses.
Some 12 years after the Kendrick Fincher Foundation was organized, 165, 000 water bottles have been distributed in 45 states and three foreign countries.
Not everyone who receives a water bottle hears Kendrick's story, Rhonda Fincher said. She's careful when she speaks to elementary-school-age children.
"I don't want to scare them," she said, but middle school and high school audiences hear about Kendrick. "I want them to know that they aren't invincible."
The Fincher family moved to Rogers from California in March of 1995, according to the biography available on the foundation's Web site. Thirteenyear-old Kendrick loved Rogers, his mother remembered, and he wanted to play football so he joined the Elm High - ball team. "Football practice started on Aug. 7, 1995," the Web site states," and it was on that day that Kendrick experienced heat stroke. After 18 days in intensive care at Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Kendrick died from complications of heat stroke."
The school system made because of Kendrick's death, Rhonda Fincher said recently. The coaches are all aware of the dangers of heat and dehydration.
"So much depends on the condition of the athletes," she said. "They can be safe, even if it's very hot, if the kids are in good shape."
Nationally, about 400 people die each year from heat stroke. Every death is preventable, Fincher said.
Part of the problem is hydration; children just don't drink enough water.
About 70 percent of young athletes arrive at after-school practices dehydrated, Fincher said, citing a study by Gatorade. Dehydration affects more than athletics, she said. Dehydrated students can't concentrate as well and may seem less alert and more tired.
She packs a squeeze bottle every day for her own children and she can tell when she picks them up in the afternoon if they've used it.
"They're in much better shape (if they drink the water )," she said.
Teachers often allow their classes to line up at the water fountain once or twice a day, but that's not anywhere near enough water, she said. Typically a child will drink only about an ounce and a half at the water fountain - so even if they go twice, they'll get only three ounces of water. A child needs 50 ounces to be well hydrated, she said.
A few teachers allow students to keep a water bottle on their desk, but very few encourage the practice. It would be better for the kids to keep a bottle of water handy and use the time spent at the water fountain on a bathroom break, she said.
Fincher often speaks at schools and health fairs. In fact she gets so many requests she has to choose which to accept. She's also learned to be careful about distributing the water bottles. They're not just a free squeeze bottle. She makes sure they bottles go out with education about dehydration and heat.
Gatorade has become a partner to the foundation. Each year the company supplies 20, 000 bottles with the company logo and the foundation's name as well as educational pamphlets and some money. This year Gatorade and the NFL helped the foundation promote a new fundraiser," Cool and Casual Day. "Fincher is collecting photos of the "coolest"people at each office that adopts the special day. Eventually they'll be posted on the foundation Web site.
The foundation operates on donations and Fincher's family has been the most constant source of donations.
"That's what keeps you going, both financially and emotionally," she said.
The annual Kendrick Fincher Run each spring has also become a fundraiser. First there's a contest to design a T-shirt and the top designs are posted online. People can vote for their favorite design with a small donation, so even the T-shirt design brings in some muchneeded money. The free run attracts about 500 children each year.
The NFL and Gatorade have also raised money and helped educate young athletes at NFL training camps all over the country.
"A little bit from a lot of people can make a huge difference," Fincher said. Her goal is to make sure no one else loses a child to the heat.
For more information, visit www. kendrickfincher. org.
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