Bill Text: NY J00344 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the State of New York
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-05 - ADOPTED [J00344 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-J00344-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 344 BY: Senator LAVALLE MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official weeks set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is proud to proclaim February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observation of National Burn Awareness Week; and WHEREAS, Developed as an initiative of the American Burn Association, National Burn Awareness Week serves as a vehicle to promote burn awareness and prevention among the general public, as well as high-risk groups, like children and older adults; and WHEREAS, Burn Awareness Week is designed to provide an opportunity for burn, fire and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in our communities; and WHEREAS, Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in our Nation where tragically, children, the elderly and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries, and almost one-third of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15; and WHEREAS, Annually, in the United States, approximately 486,000 people receive medical care for treatment of burn injuries; in 2016 alone, there were 3,280 deaths from fire and smoke inhalation and another 40,000 people were treated in hospitals for burn related injuries; and WHEREAS, Children under the age of five are 2.4 times more likely than the general population to suffer burn injuries requiring emergency medical treatment, and young adults ages 20-29 have a probability of burn injury which is roughly 1.5 times the risk of the general population; and WHEREAS, The primary causes of these injuries include fire-flame, scalds, electrical and chemicals, with most injuries occurring in the home; and WHEREAS, Today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will survive; unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, life-long physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties; and WHEREAS, Significant research and medical advances have dramatically improved burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened hospital stays, and increased burn survival rates; and WHEREAS, Aftercare support for the physical and emotional effects of burns has also played a key role in the successful reintegration of burn survivors into our communities; furthermore, burn safety education and prevention efforts continue to reduce the number of people who suffer burns each year; and WHEREAS, Many people devote their lives and careers to treating, caring for, supporting and rehabilitating burn injury survivors, including those performing vital work in burn research and development; and WHEREAS, Countless dedicated firefighters risk their own lives every day to protect others, and burn foundations and other life safety professionals steadfastly promote burn injury awareness and prevention; and WHEREAS, By memorializing this week, it will remind children how to be responsible for their personal safety, and increase family awareness of potentially harmful situations; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this important issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, state and national levels to reduce the incidence of burn-related injuries; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to proclaim February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.