PRINTER'S NO. 1975
No. 225 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY MURPHY, STOUT, ERICKSON, WAGNER, MOWERY, KUKOVICH,
LOGAN, COSTA, KITCHEN, M. WHITE, HUGHES, EARLL, MUSTO, DENT,
ORIE, WENGER, O'PAKE, TOMLINSON, SCHWARTZ, D. WHITE,
BRIGHTBILL, MELLOW, KASUNIC, THOMPSON, ROBBINS, GREENLEAF,
CONTI, PICCOLA, WAUGH AND LEMMOND, MAY 1, 2002
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 1, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2002 as "Stroke Prevention Month"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Stroke, a blockage of blood flow to the brain caused
4 by either a clogged or ruptured blood vessel, is the third
5 leading cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer
6 and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability; and
7 WHEREAS, Every 3.3 minutes someone in America dies from the
8 effects of a stroke, which accounts for one of every 14.3
9 deaths; and
10 WHEREAS, Someone suffers a new or recurrent stroke every 53
11 seconds on average; and
12 WHEREAS, About 600,000 Americans, of which more than 60% are
13 women, suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year; and
14 WHEREAS, More than 167,000 people die from stroke each year;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, Strokes occur suddenly, resulting from a blood clot
1 that blocks circulation, a buildup of fatty deposits which
2 narrow arteries or a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain; and
3 WHEREAS, Strokes can often be avoided by minimizing risk
4 factors which include smoking, diabetes and stress; and
5 WHEREAS, We can greatly reduce deaths and the disabling
6 effects of stroke by recognizing warning signs which include
7 sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on
8 one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or
9 understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden
10 trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and
11 sudden severe headache with no known cause; and
12 WHEREAS, Stroke is a medical emergency that requires
13 immediate medical attention upon the onset of these warning
14 signs; and
15 WHEREAS, Stroke is a devastating threat to personal well-
16 being, and all citizens must take the time to study and discuss
17 risk factors and warning signs of stroke; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of May 2002 as
19 "Stroke Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.
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