PRINTER'S NO. 985
No. 117 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, MAY 7, 2007
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 7, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Supporting the American Stroke Association's Power to End Stroke
2 campaign.
3 WHEREAS, Stroke is the third leading cause of death in
4 Pennsylvania; and
5 WHEREAS, Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term
6 disability in this Commonwealth and the United States, with
7 about 4.8 million stroke survivors today; and
8 WHEREAS, On average a stroke occurs every 45 seconds and
9 someone dies of a stroke every three minutes in the United
10 States; and
11 WHEREAS, The direct and indirect costs of stroke in 2005
12 totaled $56.8 billion; and
13 WHEREAS, African Americans have nearly twice the risk of a
14 first stroke than Caucasians; and
15 WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the most important cause of
16 ischemic stroke among African-American children; and
17 WHEREAS, The majority of Pennsylvanians are not aware of the
1 risk factors of stroke; and
2 WHEREAS, The majority of Pennsylvanians are not aware of the
3 signs and symptoms of an impending stroke; and
4 WHEREAS, Warning signs of stroke include sudden numbness or
5 weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the
6 body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding,
7 sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble
8 walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and sudden
9 severe headache with no known cause; and
10 WHEREAS, The American Stroke Association is committed to
11 educating the African-American community about their increased
12 risk of stroke and about stroke prevention through its new
13 campaign themed "The Power to End Stroke...You are the Power";
14 and
15 WHEREAS, The American Stroke Association needs support in
16 raising awareness and educating individuals and communities
17 about the warning signs of stroke; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Senate support the American Stroke
19 Association's Power to End Stroke campaign and urge residents of
20 this Commonwealth to learn the warning signs, symptoms and risk
21 factors associated with stroke in order to reduce the
22 devastating effects of stroke on our population; and be it
23 further
24 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
25 the Pennsylvania American Heart Association Great Rivers
26 Affiliate.
E7L82DMS/20070S0117R0985 - 2 -