PRINTER'S NO. 2438
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
505
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY C. QUINN, M. QUINN, RYAN, PICKETT, MACKENZIE,
NEILSON, CHARLTON, QUIGLEY, BIZZARRO, MURT, SCHWEYER, KINSEY,
SCHLEGEL CULVER, O'NEILL, MILLARD, DUSH, SONNEY, R. BROWN,
HENNESSEY, READSHAW, CALTAGIRONE, LONGIETTI, V. BROWN,
DiGIROLAMO, VAZQUEZ, WATSON, WARD, BOBACK AND MARSICO,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2017 as "Sepsis Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Sepsis is a blood infection that attacks the body's
own tissues and organs and can lead to tissue damage, organ
failure and death; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis is the body's overwhelming and life-
threatening response to infection; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis affects an estimated 1.6 million people
annually; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in the
United States, as more people are dying from sepsis than breast
cancer, prostate cancer and HIV/AIDS combined, and claims more
than 258,000 lives yearly; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 40% of patients diagnosed with severe
sepsis do not survive; and
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WHEREAS, Approximately 50% of sepsis survivors suffer from
post-sepsis syndrome; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis significantly impacts at-risk populations,
elderly patients, young children and individuals who are
immunosuppressed; and
WHEREAS, Health care professionals and advocates consider
sepsis to be an epidemic, with one individual diagnosed every 20
seconds; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis is currently the third leading cause of
hospital admissions in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis was the most expensive in-patient cost in
hospitals throughout the United States in 2014, costing nearly
$24 billion; and
WHEREAS, Health care professionals are combating sepsis
through early detection, best practices, new initiatives,
comprehensive education and defined data and analytics; and
WHEREAS, Early detection is the best hope for individuals
diagnosed with sepsis until a cure is found; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is proud to support health care
professionals, families and all those endeavoring to combat
sepsis; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the Sepsis Alliance officially designated
September as "Sepsis Awareness Month" to highlight sepsis-
related information and resources around the globe; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, the Department of Health held the first
conference of its kind, Stopping Sepsis: Saving Lives in
Pennsylvania, which brought together more than 200 health care
leaders to discuss how Pennsylvania can combat sepsis; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
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month of September 2017 as "Sepsis Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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