PRINTER'S NO. 985
No. 82 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY O'BRIEN, ADOLPH, ARGALL, ARMSTRONG, M. BAKER,
BARD, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BROWNE, CALTAGIRONE,
CIVERA, L. I. COHEN, M. COHEN, COLAFELLA, CORRIGAN, COY,
CRUZ, CURRY, DALEY, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER,
FORCIER, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY,
HESS, HORSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, MANDERINO,
MANN, MARSICO, McNAUGHTON, MELIO, R. MILLER, MYERS, ORIE,
PIPPY, PRESTON, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROHRER, ROSS, SATHER,
SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WALKO, WASHINGTON, WATSON, C. WILLIAMS,
WOJNAROSKI AND PISTELLA, MARCH 12, 2001
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 12, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating March 26, 2001, as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" and
2 March 26 through April 1, 2001, as "Sleep Apnea Awareness
3 Week" in Pennsylvania.
4 WHEREAS, An estimated 712,899 Pennsylvanians suffer from
5 sleep apnea, a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing
6 disorder that can be treated in most cases; and
7 WHEREAS, Untreated, sleep apnea leads to depression, sexual
8 dysfunction, hypertension and high blood pressure as well as an
9 increased risk for heart attack, stroke and automobile crashes;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, Medical students receive only one to two hours of
12 instruction in basic sleep science during their training, and
13 numerous studies have concluded that the general public,
1 policymakers and primary care physicians lack basic sleep
2 knowledge, which compromises the health and safety of everyone;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, Sleepiness which results from untreated and
5 undiagnosed sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, has been
6 identified as the cause of a growing number of on-the-job
7 accidents; and
8 WHEREAS, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
9 conservatively estimates that 100,000 motor vehicle crashes are
10 caused by drowsy drivers each year, resulting in more than 1,500
11 fatalities and 71,000 injuries; and
12 WHEREAS, One-third of all Americans admit they have dozed off
13 while driving; and
14 WHEREAS, Based on statistics from the Department of
15 Transportation, there were 2,409 accidents and 22 fatal crashes
16 in this Commonwealth in 1998 attributed to drowsy drivers; and
17 WHEREAS, The economic impact of untreated and undiagnosed
18 sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and chronic sleepiness,
19 is devastating: sleep deprivation and untreated apnea are
20 estimated to cost Americans over $100 billion annually in lost
21 productivity, medical expenses, sick leave and property and
22 environmental damage; and
23 WHEREAS, Based on statistics from the Department of
24 Transportation, the 1997 economic impact loss due to traffic
25 accidents was $987 to every man, woman and child in this
26 Commonwealth; and
27 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is proud to join A.W.A.K.E in
28 Philly Sleep Apnea Education and Support Group as it initiates
29 "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day," coinciding with the National Sleep
30 Foundation and the American Sleep Apnea Association's third
20010H0082R0985 - 2 -
1 annual "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" on March 26, 2001; and
2 WHEREAS, Organizers of "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" recognize
3 that education is the foundation of civilized societies and they
4 are committed to educating business, government and the public,
5 creating an awareness of the severity of untreated and
6 undiagnosed sleep disorders, including sleep apnea; therefore be
7 it
8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
9 26, 2001, as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" and March 26 through
10 April 1, 2001, as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
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