THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ORIE, TARTAGLIONE, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BLAKE, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BROWNE, COSTA, DINNIMAN, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FONTANA, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, McILHINNEY, PILEGGI, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SCARNATI, SCHWANK, SOLOBAY, STACK, VANCE, WARD, WASHINGTON, WAUGH, D. WHITE, M. WHITE, YAW, HUGHES AND BRUBAKER, JANUARY 24, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 24, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of February 2012 as "American Heart Month"

in Pennsylvania and urging all Pennsylvanians to recognize

the critical importance of the tools and skills that will

increase survival rates from cardiac arrest.

WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease is the nation's leading cause

of death and costliest disease with direct and indirect costs

estimated to be $297.7 billion; and

WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease accounts for one out of three

deaths nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease

each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds; and

WHEREAS, Individuals under 75 years of age account for nearly

33% of deaths due to cardiovascular disease; and

WHEREAS, This year an estimated 785,000 people in the United

States will have a new coronary attack, an estimated 470,000

people nationwide will have a recurrent attack and an additional

195,000 "silent" heart attacks will occur; and

WHEREAS, Over 41,300 Pennsylvanians died from major

cardiovascular diseases in 2009; and

WHEREAS, The research is clear that there are preventive

strategies, as well as community-based strategies, that can

increase survival rates from cardiovascular disease; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association's 2020 impact goal

seeks to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by

20% while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and

stroke by 20% through research, population-level and community-

level interventions and public health and policy measures; and

WHEREAS, Efforts of the American Heart Association encourage

citizens to help save lives by calling 911 if symptoms occur,

become trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and

encourage comprehensive automated external defibrillator (AED)

programs in their communities; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association is celebrating

February 2012 as "American Heart Month" and promoting education

and awareness by encouraging citizens to learn the warning signs

of heart attack and stroke; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate, in recognition of the importance

of the ongoing fight against heart disease, recognize February

2012 as "American Heart Month" in Pennsylvania and urge all

Pennsylvanians to recognize the critical importance of the tools

and skills that will increase survival rates from cardiac

arrest. By incorporating these tools and skills into aggressive

programs, thousands of lives can be saved each year.