THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ROBBINS, PILEGGI, COSTA, ALLOWAY, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BRUBAKER, DINNIMAN, EARLL, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, ORIE, RAFFERTY, SOLOBAY, TARTAGLIONE, WASHINGTON, WAUGH, D. WHITE AND YAW, MAY 23, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 23, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the week of June 1 through 7, 2011, as "National CPR

and AED Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Heart disease affects men, women and children of

every age and race in the United States and it continues to be

the leading cause of death in America; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 295,000 emergency medical services-

treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually

nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 92% of sudden cardiac arrest victims

die before being discharged from a hospital; and

WHEREAS, Sudden cardiac arrest in most adults results from an

abnormal heart rhythm, often ventricular fibrillation; and

WHEREAS, Unfortunately, only 32% of out-of-hospital cardiac

arrest victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation

(CPR); and

WHEREAS, Prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles the

victim's chance of survival by helping to maintain vital blood

flow to the heart and brain, increasing the amount of time in

which an electric shock from a defibrillator may be effective;

and

WHEREAS, An automated external defibrillator (AED), even when

used by a bystander, is safe, easy to operate and, if used

immediately after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest, highly

effective in terminating ventricular fibrillation so the heart

can resume a normal, effective rhythm; and

WHEREAS, For every minute without bystander CPR, survival

from witnessed cardiac arrest decreases 7% to 10%; and

WHEREAS, The interval between a 911 telephone call and the

arrival of emergency medical services personnel is usually

longer than five minutes, therefore, a cardiac arrest victim's

survival is likely to depend on a public trained in CPR and AED

use and access to these lifesaving measures; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association, the American Red

Cross and the National Safety Council are preparing a public

awareness and training campaign on CPR and AED use to be held

during the first week of June; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize June 1 through 7, 2011,

as "National CPR and AED Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania and

commend the good work of the American Heart Association, the

American Red Cross and the National Safety Council and encourage

all Pennsylvanians to become properly trained in CPR and AED

usage.