THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, KITCHEN, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE, DINNIMAN, KASUNIC, STACK, FONTANA, WARD, BOSCOLA, SOLOBAY, BAKER, RAFFERTY, ALLOWAY, GREENLEAF, D. WHITE, FERLO AND PILEGGI, MAY 1, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 1, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of May 2012 as "American Stroke Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term

disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United

States, killing more than 134,000 people nationwide and more

than 6,700 people in this Commonwealth each year; and

WHEREAS, Stroke prevalence is projected to increase by 24.9%

between 2010 and 2030, and the direct medical costs for treating

stroke are expected to increase by 238%, from $28.3 billion in

2010 to $95.6 billion by 2030; and

WHEREAS, Warning signs of stroke include sudden numbness or

weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the

body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding,

sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble

walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and sudden,

severe headache with no known cause; and

WHEREAS, Americans are more aware of the risk factors and

warning signs for stroke than in the past, but one-third of

adults cannot identify any symptoms; and

WHEREAS, The signature action for "American Stroke Month" in

2012 is to reach out to a young audience between 10 and 17

years of age through music and social media to educate them

about stroke, warning signs and risk factors and to engage them

in sharing the message with their parents and grandparents; and

WHEREAS, Through the American Stroke Association's "Power to

End Stroke" awareness campaign, the "31 Days of Power" activity

will empower African Americans, who are at particularly high

risk of stroke, to reduce their stroke risk, recognize warning

signs and respond quickly in a stroke emergency; and

WHEREAS, New and effective treatments have been developed to

treat and minimize the severity and damaging effects of strokes,

but much more research is needed; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate May 2012 as "American

Stroke Month" in Pennsylvania and urge the citizens of our

Commonwealth to familiarize themselves with the risk factors

associated with stroke, recognize the warning signs and symptoms

of stroke and, upon the first signs of a stroke, dial 9-1-1

immediately so that we might begin to reduce the devastating

effects of stroke on our population.