Let's go for some
Story and photos courtesy of the
American Heart Association
Hey kids! Here's another way to stay
healthy and take care of your heart. And
it might surprise you: drink more water!!
The American Heart Association of
Northwest Arkansas and some other
organizations – RB, Beaver Water District,
Healthy Active Arkansas and Tyson Foods
– recently brought 30 new water bottle
filling stations to some Springdale schools
this school year.
The stations, called H2O and GO,
provide kids with more access to free,
clean drinking water. Water is a basic
human need that we can't live without.
(And it's a much better choice than
sugary drinks!) In Northwest Arkansas,
our water comes from Beaver Lake and
is made clean for drinking by Beaver
Water District. Cities then
supply water to the schools.
A recent study showed that
school-age kids in Washington
County and Benton
County are more than 35%
overweight or obese.
Mary Miller, who is a Health
Coordinator at the Springdale schools,
works to help kids make healthier food
and drink choices. She wants to help kids
stay at a healthy weight and grow up to
become healthy adults. Miller encourages
kids to get in the habit of drinking water
instead of sugary drinks.
"We want that to be the norm – kids
carrying bottles and knowing where
they can get water and have it readily
available," says Mary.
The students' reaction to the new
stations lets her know she's on the right
track. Kids at the schools are lining up
at the stations to fill their water bottles.
Go, go H2O!!
Springdale
Coordinated School
Health Coordinator
Mary Miller
Of f icialKidsMag.com • FEBRUARY 2020 • 15
