Schools in India have been implementing the ‘water bell’ to keep students from being dehydrated – and it actually works! The practice is now gaining popularity not just in India but in other parts of the world.
Water is a very important to human health, not just for hygienic purposes, but primarily because the body needs a lot of water to survive. Because our bodies actually lose water through sweating, digestion, peeing, and even while breathing, it is crucial to rehydrate and replace water by drinking fluids.
Photo credit: Times of India
Sadly, a lot of people don’t really like drinking water or just don’t feel like doing it, particularly if they are busy with work or, as in the case of school kids, doing their lessons.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar, the Commissioner of Public Instruction, implemented the water bell in all school districts, depending on the individual situation in each locality. But most of the areas have the same schedule: 10:35AM, 12:00 noon, and 2:00PM.
Each time the ‘water bell’ rings, the students (and teachers!) are encouraged to drink water.
Photo credit: Times of India
“It is not compulsory to drink water every time the water bell rings. It is just a reminder to drink water. If one child drinks or sips water then others also will be inspired to take a sip. That’s what we are aiming at,” clarified Commissioner for Public Instruction K.G. Jagdeesha.
The original idea to the ‘water bell’ began over 20 years ago when Jenil John, then a national-level handball player, realized that a lot of students are absent from school because of fever and infection. This was later associated with dehydration; thus, he became an advocate for drinking water in schools.
Photo credit: Times of India
Doctors would soon support his idea and the advocacy was implemented in schools through the water bell. Do you think this should also be implemented in the Philippines?
