PRINTER'S NO. 1818
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
379
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY BAKER, SCAVELLO, GREENLEAF, FONTANA, BARTOLOTTA,
MARTIN, RESCHENTHALER, REGAN, EICHELBERGER, BROWNE, FARNESE,
DINNIMAN, BREWSTER, BLAKE, SABATINA, KILLION, VULAKOVICH,
SCHWANK, VOGEL, MENSCH, RAFFERTY, FOLMER, AUMENT AND COSTA,
JUNE 4, 2018
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 4, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of June 1 through 7, 2018, as
"Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External
Defibrillator Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading
causes of death in the United States, affecting more than
325,000 individuals of every age each year; and
WHEREAS, SCA is an electrical malfunction in the heart that
causes an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, and disrupts the
flow of blood to the brain, the heart and the rest of the body;
and
WHEREAS, When an individual has SCA, the individual's heart
can suddenly and unexpectedly stop beating; and
WHEREAS, Survival of SCA depends upon immediate bystander
intervention, including calling 911 and beginning hands-only
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or treating the victim with
an automated external defibrillator (AED), if available; and
WHEREAS, CPR is a lifesaving technique that can be performed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
by pressing hard and fast on the center of the victim's chest at
a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute; and
WHEREAS, CPR, when performed immediately, can double or
triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival; and
WHEREAS, AEDs are portable electronic medical devices that
automatically diagnose life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia in
patients; and
WHEREAS, AEDs produce a shock that corrects the arrhythmia,
allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm, a process
called defibrillation; and
WHEREAS, All first response vehicles, including ambulances,
law enforcement vehicles and many fire engines should carry an
AED; and
WHEREAS, Placing AEDs in optimal public locations where large
groups of people gather, regardless of age or activity, allows
an AED to be available in case of an SCA emergency; and
WHEREAS, Emergency response providers and bystanders are
afforded good samaritan civil immunity when attempting to save a
life with an AED; and
WHEREAS, Only one-third of SCA victims receive CPR from
bystanders and fewer than 5% are treated with AEDs before
emergency personnel arrive at the scene, resulting in a survival
rate of only 11%; and
WHEREAS, Individuals can be proactive by taking a course from
the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or a
local health training agency to learn how to perform CPR and use
an AED; and
WHEREAS, Given that a person's chance of surviving an SCA
increases tremendously with the knowledge and use of both CPR
and an AED, it is vitally important that the public be aware of
20180SR0379PN1818 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
their importance and their use in saving lives; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of June 1
through 7, 2018, as "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated
External Defibrillator Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
20180SR0379PN1818 - 3 -
1
2
3
4