THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, APRIL 27, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 27, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of May 2011 as "American Stroke Month" in

Pennsylvania.

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

disability and the third leading cause of death in the United

States, killing more than 136,000 people nationwide and more

than 6,600 Pennsylvanians each year; 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 and 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 two in five

adults still cannot identify any symptoms; and

WHEREAS, One message of "American Stroke Month 2011" is "Take

2 to Save 2" to encourage people to take two minutes to save two

lives by sending two health messages to two people that they

know who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure, have

diabetes or have a family history of heart disease or stroke and

are therefore at increased risk of being disabled or dying from

a stroke; and

WHEREAS, The other message of this month is to promote the

program "Power To End Stroke" to reduce stroke in African

Americans, who are at particularly high risk of the disease, by

empowering them to reduce their risk, recognize the warning

signs and respond quickly; 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 recognize May 2011 as "American

Stroke Month" in Pennsylvania and urge all the citizens of this

Commonwealth to familiarize themselves with the risk factors

associated with stroke, recognize the warning signs and symptoms

and, at the first signs of a stroke, dial 9-1-1 immediately in

order to reduce the devastating effects of stroke on our

population.