[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12] [House] [Pages 17279-17280] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF AUGUST 2008 AS ``NATIONAL HEAT STROKE AWARENESS MONTH'' Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 296) expressing support for the designation of August 2008 as ``National Heat Stroke Awareness Month'' to raise awareness and encourage prevention of heat stroke, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution. The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows: H. Con. Res. 296 Whereas heat stroke is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated, and 50 percent of those with heat stroke die from it; Whereas children absorb more heat from a hot environment because they have greater surface area-to-body mass ratio than adults; Whereas the smaller the child, the faster he or she can overheat; Whereas children and adolescents may have a reduced ability to dissipate heat through sweating; Whereas children and adolescents frequently do not have the physiological drive to drink enough fluids to replenish sweat losses during prolonged exercise; Whereas youth athletes may be more easily distracted by teammates and spectators when given the opportunity to rest and rehydrate; Whereas a recent study found that 70 percent of afterschool athletes arrive on the playing field already dehydrated; Whereas heat-induced illness is one of the most preventable sports ailments and parents, young athletes, and coaches need to understand the physiological factors that increase the risk for heat-related illness and take steps to prevent it; Whereas 13-year-old Kendrick Fincher from Rogers, Arkansas, collapsed during an August pre-season football practice, was rushed to the hospital, and for the next 18 days his family waited anxiously for him to regain consciousness, tragically never regained consciousness, and died on August 25, 1995, from multi-system organ failure as a result of heat stroke; Whereas Kendrick's parents, Rhonda and Mike Fincher, founded the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation in honor of their son, with the aim to raise awareness of the potentially deadly consequences of dehydration for student athletes and to provide schools with the information and equipment needed to ensure other students do not suffer from heat stroke; Whereas the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation has distributed more than 130,000 water bottles and heat illness prevention pamphlets to children and athletes throughout the United States; Whereas the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation oversees consultation with school district athletic programs to ensure they have procedures in place to prevent heat illness and dehydration; Whereas the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation provides heat stroke awareness and steps for prevention at local health fairs, community events, and the Annual Youth Run through ``cool huts'', misting stations, and free ice water; Whereas Gatorade Company joined forces with the National Football League to lead a nationwide ``Beat the Heat'' campaign aimed at educating parents and football coaches about the importance of hydration in order to keep athletes safe in the hot summer months; and Whereas Gatorade Company and the National Football League held Gatorade Donation Days at training camps to raise money to raise awareness of the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That-- (1) it is the sense of Congress that-- (A) National Heat Stroke Awareness Month provides an opportunity to educate the people of the United States about heat stroke; (B) the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation should be applauded for its efforts in promoting awareness about heat stroke; and (C) policymakers, parents, coaches, student athletes, not- for-profit organizations, and other members of the community should work to increase awareness and prevention of heat stroke; and (2) Congress urges national and community organizations, businesses in the private sector, and the media, through National Heat Stroke Awareness Month to promote the awareness of heat stroke. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey. General Leave Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey? There was no objection. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 296, which designates August 2008 as National Heat Stroke Awareness Month for the purpose of raising awareness and encouraging prevention of heat stroke. As we approach the hottest days of the year, it is important that we take the time now to recognize the serious dangers of heat stroke. Whether it is a child who will participate in preseason camps to prepare for the fall athletic season, or seniors who take a walk outside, the threat of heat stroke is high. We need to make sure everyone is properly hydrated. This is particularly true for our students, as approximately 70 percent of student athletes arrive on the field already dehydrated. Heat stroke is extremely preventible, yet about half of those who contact it will die from it. This resolution before us aims to increase awareness of this deadly condition. It urges national and community organizations, the media, coaches, student athletes and others to widely disseminate information on heat stroke. This resolution also recognizes and applauds the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation for its hard work and commitment to educating the public on the fatal effects of heat stroke. The foundation is named in honor of 13-year-old Kendrick Fincher, a child who died tragically of heat stroke while attending football practice. In an effort to prevent the reoccurrence of such a tragedy, the foundation has dispensed over 130,000 water bottles and informational pamphlets to children and athletes throughout the United States. I want to thank my colleague, Representative Boozman, for his hard work in bringing this resolution to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H. Con. Res. 296. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time has I may consume. I, too, rise in support of H. Con. Res. 296, recognizing the goals and ideals of National Heat Stroke Awareness Month. I credit and thank my colleague from Arkansas, Mr. Boozman, for drafting and introducing this resolution. As August hits, more people will be traveling to the beach, going to neighborhood pools, working outside, and football practice starts for many high schools and colleges. As people enjoy the outdoors, it is important for Americans to be cognizant of the dangers of heat stroke. [[Page 17280]] Friday, August 1, 2008, will mark the beginning of the National Heat Stroke Awareness Month. This month serves to commemorate the importance of educating Americans and their children about the need to stay hydrated during hot summer months, understand how much water and fluids their bodies need to replenish, and the appropriate ways to avoid heat- related illnesses. National Heat Stroke Awareness Month is an important reminder that Americans and children participating in athletics continue to be impacted by the intense heat and physical activity that can dehydrate the body or even lead to a heat stroke. Local communities should work together to provide avenues to prevent dehydration, as well as ensuring that children, who are more vulnerable to heat illness, have access to fluids to rehydrate and a cool place to rest during hot summer months. According to the National Centers for Health Statistics, 7,046 deaths were attributed to excessive heat exposure from 1979 to 1997, or an average of 371 deaths per year. Heat stroke and death from excessive heat exposure are more common during summers with prolonged heat waves, such as in 1980. Department statistics show that children and the elderly are among the hardest hit populations in the U.S., and, if not treated properly, it can be fatal. A recent study found that 70 percent of after-school athletes arrive on the field already dehydrated, and because children have a reduced ability to dissipate heat through sweating, it puts them at an increased risk for a heat-related illness. It is alarming when 50 percent of those diagnosed with heat stroke will die, and it is important that parents, coaches, teachers and other members of the community look for the warning signs of heat illness. I would like to thank Rhonda and Mike Fincher, who have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the heat-related illness after they tragically lost their 13-year-old son Kendrick during an August preseason football practice. In honor of their son, they have founded the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation, and have provided student athletes with the information and equipment needed to ensure they will not suffer from heat stroke. I would also like to thank the Gatorade Company for leading the National Beat the Heat Campaign aimed at educating parents and football coaches about the importance of hydration in order to keep athletes safe in hot summer months. {time} 1515 Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Boozman once again for introducing this resolution, my colleagues on Energy and Commerce, Mr. Pallone and Mr. Dingell and Mr. Barton, to make sure that it got to the House floor in a rapid, quick motion. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution commemorating August as National Heat Stroke Awareness Month. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Arkansas. Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 296, which expresses the sense of Congress that August should be designated as Heat Stroke Awareness Month, which will provide opportunities to educate parents, educators, and athletes about heat stroke, and prevent future deaths. On August 7, 1995, 13-year-old Kendrick Fincher of Rogers, Arkansas was at football practice for the Elmwood Riders when he experienced heat stroke. After 18 days in intensive care at Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, Kendrick died from complications of heat stroke. I was on the school board in Rogers during this time, and this truly was a terrible tragedy for our community. Since then, Kendrick's parents, Mike and Rhonda Fincher, have committed themselves to ensuring that no other parent has to experience the heartache of a very preventable death. They established the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation to make certain children have proper hydration during athletic activities and that they have squeeze bottles with them at all events. Because of their dedicated work, procedures have been changed in sports programs at the local schools to help prevent a similar accident. In addition, Gatorade and the National Football League have worked with the foundation to lead a nationwide Beat the Heat campaign aimed at educating parents and football coaches about the importance of hydration in order to keep athletes safe in the hot summer months. This resolution also recognizes the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation for all of its efforts in promoting awareness about heat stroke, and it encourages other national and community organizations to get involved in this important fight. I would also like to thank Chairman Dingell, Ranking Member Barton, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Terry for their help in bringing this forward now as we go into August during the season when, as we are experiencing today, these things are very, very possible. I appreciate them bringing it in a timely fashion, and I encourage my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 296. Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I would just conclude by suggesting that if there are any coaches of youth teams that play outside, they should check out the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation's Web site for advice on how to protect the kids on their team. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 296, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________