Senate Bill sb1610

    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 1610

    By Senator Rich





    34-1091-07

  1                        Senate Resolution

  2         A resolution recognizing November 12-18, 2007,

  3         as "Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week" in

  4         Florida.

  5  

  6         WHEREAS, the central nervous system is made up of two

  7  parts, the brain and the spinal cord, and

  8         WHEREAS, the spinal cord is considered the "information

  9  superhighway" of the body because it contains bundles of

10  neurons that carry signals to and from the brain, controlling

11  many bodily functions, and

12         WHEREAS, after a spinal cord injury occurs, damaged

13  neurons can no longer emit signals to or from the brain, and

14  the injured person suffers permanent sensory loss and muscle

15  control, and

16         WHEREAS, currently there are approximately 250,000 to

17  400,000 individuals in the United States who have sustained a

18  spinal cord injury, and

19         WHEREAS, it is estimated that the annual incidence of

20  spinal cord injury in the United States, not including those

21  who die at the scene of an accident, is approximately 11,000

22  new cases each year, and

23         WHEREAS, the most common age for spinal cord injuries

24  is 19 years old, with 30 percent of all injuries occurring

25  between the ages of 17 and 23, and 53 percent of all injuries

26  occurring between the ages of 16 and 30, and

27         WHEREAS, more than 80 percent of spinal cord injuries

28  occur in men and 20 percent occur in women, and

29         WHEREAS, the four leading causes of spinal cord injury

30  for both men and women are auto accidents, falls, gunshot

31  wounds, and recreational sporting activities, and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 1610
    34-1091-07




 1         WHEREAS, the average annual cost of care for

 2  individuals with spinal cord injury ranges from $250,000 to

 3  $700,000 the first year after injury with an estimated

 4  lifetime cost ranging between $500,000 and $3 million,

 5  depending on the severity of injury, and

 6         WHEREAS, in the past 15 years, scientists have made

 7  major breakthroughs in understanding how to encourage damaged

 8  neurons to regenerate and restore function and how to improve

 9  the quality of life for patients in areas such as infertility

10  and pain management, and

11         WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation has worked to

12  help fund research aimed at finding a cure for paralysis, as

13  well as improving the overall quality of life for individuals

14  with paralysis, and

15         WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will spend the

16  week of November 12-18 working with local governments and

17  schools to educate Floridians about the causes and treatments

18  for spinal cord injuries, as well as informing residents on

19  how to prevent these injuries from taking place, NOW,

20  THEREFORE,

21  

22  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

23  

24         That the week of November 12-18, 2007, is recognized as

25  "Spinal Cord Awareness Week" in the State of Florida.

26  

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.