PRINTER'S NO. 1521
No. 233 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY STACK, WOZNIAK, TARTAGLIONE, ERICKSON, KUKOVICH,
THOMPSON, FERLO, LOGAN, O'PAKE, ORIE, WAGNER, COSTA,
D. WHITE, STOUT, BRIGHTBILL, EARLL, CORMAN, GREENLEAF,
RAFFERTY, CONTI, ARMSTRONG, FUMO, KASUNIC, MOWERY, RHOADES,
WENGER, KITCHEN AND SCHWARTZ, MARCH 31, 2004
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 31, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of April 2 through 9, 2004, as "Sleep
2 Awareness Week" and April 14, 2004, as "Sleep Apnea Awareness
3 Day" 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 a variety of health
8 problems, including depression, hypertension, heart attack and
9 stroke; and
10 WHEREAS, It is estimated that roughly 21,387 people in this
11 Commonwealth have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, leaving
12 691,512 Pennsylvanians undiagnosed; and
13 WHEREAS, Once properly diagnosed, sleep apnea can be
14 successfully treated without invasive action; and
15 WHEREAS, Numerous studies have concluded that the general
16 public, policymakers and many primary care physicians lack basic
17 knowledge of sleep apnea, which compromises the health and
1 safety of everyone; and
2 WHEREAS, Statistics of the Department of Transportation
3 demonstrate that drowsy drivers were responsible for 2,409
4 accidents in Pennsylvania during 1998, resulting in 22 fatal
5 crashes; and
6 WHEREAS, The National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research
7 estimates the cost of sleep disorders and deprivation to the
8 nation to be billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, Awake in Philly Community Education Group is
11 organizing the fourth annual "Sleep Awareness Week" from Friday,
12 April 2, 2004, through Friday, April 9, 2004, and the fourth
13 annual "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" on Wednesday, April 14, 2004;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, Organizers of these observances recognize that
16 education is the foundation of civilized societies and are
17 committed to educating business, government and the public about
18 the impact of untreated and undiagnosed sleep disorders;
19 therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of April 2
21 through 9, 2004, as "Sleep Awareness Week" and April 14, 2004,
22 as "Sleep Apnea Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.
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