WHEREAS, the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement has been impacting the health of women for 10 years and more than 627,000 women's lives have been saved and 330 fewer women are dying every day; and WHEREAS, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet only one in five American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat; and WHEREAS, cardiovascular diseases cause one in three women's deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute; and WHEREAS, an estimated 43 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases; and WHEREAS, ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease; and WHEREAS, women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies; and WHEREAS, since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men's and women's survival continues to widen; and WHEREAS, women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are if someone else is having a heart attack; and WHEREAS, in celebration of the 10th National Wear Red Day on February 1, 2013, Go Red For Women is asking all women across America to join in making America Go Red and save women's lives; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate February 1, in 2013 and in each succeeding year, to be National Wear Red Day in Virginia; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly encourage all Virginians to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day by the wearing of the color red; by increasing awareness, speaking up about heart disease, and empowering women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, thousands of lives can be saved each year; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the American Heart Association so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website. |