Assembly Resolution No. 819 BY: M. of A. Rozic MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health 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, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Awareness Month in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Awareness Month provides an opportunity to honor the memory of the young lives that ended too soon, shows encouragement and support for the families and loved ones devastated by their loss, and increases public awareness of SUDC and the ongoing search for answers; and WHEREAS, SUDC is a category of death in children between the ages of 1 and 18 that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy; and WHEREAS, Each year there are approximately 400 new cases of SUDC in the United States, including more than 200 younger children between the ages of 1 and 4 who die without any clear cause or explanation; and WHEREAS, While less common than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which occurs before the first birthday, SUDC is an important health concern deserving of increased public awareness and research; and WHEREAS, SUDC is the 5th leading category of death among children ages 1 to 4; and WHEREAS, Currently, there is no way to predict or prevent SUDC as its cause is unknown; future research will hopefully identify means by which SUDC can be prevented; and WHEREAS, Organizations such as the SUDC Foundation, medical professionals, medicolegal death investigators and volunteers should be recognized for their dedicated efforts in working to better understand the causes of SUDC, improving the health of infants and children, and providing much-needed hope and support for those families grieving the heartbreaking sudden, unexplained death of a child; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health crisis, and more must be done to increase activity at the State, local and national levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Awareness Month 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.