A RESOLUTION

 

1Recognizing the week of April 28 through May 4, 2014, as "Noise
2Reduction Week" in Pennsylvania and April 30, 2014, as "Noise
3Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

4WHEREAS, The Center for Hearing and Communication established
5"International Noise Awareness Day" to promote awareness of the
6dangers of long-term exposure to noise and will mark the 19th
7Annual International Noise Awareness Day on April 30, 2014; and

8WHEREAS, According to the Center for Hearing and
9Communication, noise in all forms poses one of the worst threats
10to hearing for all people; and

11WHEREAS, Noise served as one of the leading causes of hearing
12loss in the 28 million people with impaired hearing in the
13United States, and health statistics suggest a trend that the
14incidence of hearing loss occurs at increasingly younger ages;
15and

16WHEREAS, Noise-induced hearing loss, though preventable, is
17permanent; and

1WHEREAS, Noise harms more than our ears as continued exposure
2to loud noise will not only cause hearing loss, but, according
3to William H. Stewart, former United States Surgeon General,
4"Noise must be considered a hazard to the health of people
5everywhere"; and

6WHEREAS, Studies have correlated noise with physiological
7changes in sleep, blood pressure, digestion, gastrointestinal
8changes and generally can cause annoyance that damages the
9quality of life in neighborhoods and communities; and

10WHEREAS, Noise may cause increased aggression and less
11helpful behavior and various mental health issues; and

12WHEREAS, Workers in various professions, including
13firefighters, police officers, factory workers, farmers,
14construction workers, military personnel, heavy industry
15workers, musicians and entertainment industry professionals,
16have an increased risk of hearing damage and other problems due
17to noise; and

18WHEREAS, Office staff employed in crowded office buildings
19with phones ringing and the constant hum of computers, air
20conditioners and fans are faced with the annoyance and increased
21stress created by noise; and

22WHEREAS, Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative across the
23life span of an individual, but many warning signs will occur
24that can indicate a problem has developed; and

25WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth should pay attention
26to the following warning signs and possibly contact a licensed
27audiologist or have their ears examined by an ear doctor if they
28experience:

29(1)  A ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in the ears
30immediately after exposure to noise.

1(2)  A slight muffling of sounds after exposure, making
2it difficult to understand people after leaving a noisy
3area. 

4(3)  Difficulty understanding speech in that a person can
5hear all the words, but cannot understand what someone has
6said;

7and

8WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth can take various
9actions to protect their hearing, including paying attention to
10the noises around them, turning down the volume on devices
11whenever possible, avoiding or setting a time limit spent in
12noisy sports events, rock concerts and nightclubs, wearing
13adequate hearing protection, such as foam ear plugs or ear
14muffs, when inside a noisy environment or when using loud
15equipment and making any and all efforts to reduce the creation
16of loud, constant noises; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
18week of April 28 through May 4, 2014, as "Noise Reduction Week"
19in Pennsylvania and April 30, 2014, as "Noise Awareness Day" in
20Pennsylvania; and be it further

21RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
22residents of this Commonwealth to do their part to recognize the
2319th Annual International Noise Awareness Day on April 30, 2014,
24by observing one minute of silence from 2:15 p.m. to 2:16 p.m.;
25and be it further

26RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
27residents of this Commonwealth throughout the week of April 28
28through May 4, 2014, and thereafter, to make an effort to reduce
29noise by:

30(1)  Paying attention to the noises we each make and

1respecting our neighbors' right to peace and quiet.

2(2)  Turning down the volume two notches on radios and
3personal stereo systems with headphones, turning down the
4volume one notch on any television and asking health club
5instructors, movie theater owners and other business people
6to lower the volume on the amplified devices in their
7establishments.

8(3)  Not honking a vehicle horn, except in the case of
9imminent danger.

10(4)  Not tipping cab drivers who honk their horns
11illegally.

12(5)  Avoiding noisy sports events, restaurants, rock
13concerts and nightclubs unless wearing hearing protection.

14(6)  Replacing noisy activities with quiet ones, such as
15taking a walk and visiting libraries and museums.

16(7)  Wearing adequate hearing protection in noisy
17environments, including when using a subway or mowing a lawn.

18(8)  Turning off the television during dinner and having
19a quiet conversation instead.

20(9)  Scheduling a hearing screening.

21(10)  Discussing with local officials the enforcement of
22noise ordinances that protect the quality of life in
23neighborhoods and otherwise quietly spreading the word about
24the danger of loud noise.