PRINTER'S NO. 773
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
137
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY MURT, ACOSTA, BISHOP, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE,
COHEN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DAVIS, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI,
DRISCOLL, DUSH, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, HARHART,
HENNESSEY, KILLION, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY,
MAJOR, MARSICO, McNEILL, MILLARD, C. PARKER, PAYNE, PICKETT,
READSHAW, ROSS, ROZZI, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, SNYDER, SONNEY,
THOMAS, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 2, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 2, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of April 19 through 25, 2015, as "Shaken
Baby Syndrome Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The well-being of this generation and future
generations depends in great measure upon the ability and
dedication of those who devote themselves to make the safety,
welfare and well-being of our precious children their highest
priority; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, statistics show that 680,000 children were
victims of abuse and neglect in the United States and according
to the Department of Human Services this number includes 3,565
children in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, On average, between four and seven children will die
every day as the result of abuse or neglect in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The leading cause of death and disability among
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abused children under five years of age is infant abusive head
trauma, including the inflicted trauma known as shaken baby
syndrome; and
WHEREAS, Shaken baby syndrome is one of the most severe forms
of child abuse caused by the violent shaking of an infant with
or without impact against an object; and
WHEREAS, Shaken baby syndrome and other inflicted head
traumas occur when a caregiver loses control and shakes a baby
or young child, most frequently less than one year of age, but
in some cases as old as five years of age, resulting in
blindness, broken bones, cerebral palsy, brain damage, hearing
loss, paralysis, seizures, mental retardation, speech or
learning difficulties and death; and
WHEREAS, Such abuse causes unspeakable pain and suffering to
our most vulnerable residents, while putting enormous strain on
families in all communities; and
WHEREAS, On average across the United States, 750 to 3,750
infants and young children are diagnosed with shaken baby
syndrome every year, with medical experts believing that
thousands of additional cases are misdiagnosed or undetected;
and
WHEREAS, Approximately one-third of the victims die as a
result of direct brain injuries; and
WHEREAS, Even in milder cases in which babies look normal
immediately after the shaking, the child may eventually develop
irreversible damage due to the child's injuries; and
WHEREAS, The most effective way to end shaken baby syndrome
is by preventing such abuse and it is clear that minimal costs
of educational and preventive programs may avert enormous
medical and disability costs and immeasurable grief for many
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families; and
WHEREAS, Hospital-based education programs, such as the
nationally recognized Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention &
Awareness Program developed by Dr. Mark Dias of the Penn State
Hershey Medical Center, provide critically important information
about shaken baby syndrome to every parent of every child born
in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, the Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Act was
enacted, establishing the Shaken Baby Syndrome Education and
Prevention Program; and
WHEREAS, The Shaken Baby Syndrome Education and Prevention
Program partnered with the Department of Health, and in 2006,
Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to provide
consistent hospital-based education in 100% of all birthing and
children's hospitals in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Prevention and awareness efforts are supported by
national and local organizations, such as the Department of
Health, the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy
of Pediatrics, Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania, the Cynthia
Gibbs Foundation, the Skipper Initiative, the National Center on
Shaken Baby Syndrome, the Children's Defense Fund, the Child
Welfare League, the Shaken Baby Alliance and the Pennsylvania
Family Support Alliance, that all work to educate new parents
and caregivers and increase awareness among the general public
to encourage increased support for victims and their families in
the health care and criminal justice systems; and
WHEREAS, Prevention and awareness has been shown to provide
critically important information about shaken baby syndrome to
parents, caregivers, day-care workers, child protection
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employees, law enforcement personnel, health care professionals,
the general public and representatives of the justice system;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of April 19 through 25, 2015, as "Shaken Baby Syndrome
Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania and encourage all residents to
observe this week with programs and activities that share the
commitment of prevention, awareness, community support and
partnerships to protect our children from shaken baby syndrome;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend those
advocates, organizations and agencies of national, State, county
and local governments that work continuously to educate parents,
caregivers and professionals about the causes, consequences and
prevention of shaken baby syndrome and other inflicted head
injuries.
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