[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7531-H7533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the 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

[[Page H7532]]

     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.
  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

[[Page H7533]]

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.

                          ____________________