| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution urging support of the American Stroke |
| 3 | Association's "Power to End Stroke" campaign and |
| 4 | recognizing May 2008 as "Power to End Stroke Month" in |
| 5 | Florida. |
| 6 |
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| 7 | WHEREAS, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the |
| 8 | United States, striking approximately 700,000 Americans each |
| 9 | year and killing 150,000, and |
| 10 | WHEREAS, stroke is also a leading cause of serious long- |
| 11 | term disability in the United States, with more than 1.1 million |
| 12 | adults experiencing functional limitations or difficulty with |
| 13 | activities of daily living resulting from stroke, and |
| 14 | WHEREAS, on the average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds |
| 15 | in the United States and takes a life every 3 minutes, and |
| 16 | WHEREAS, the estimated direct and indirect costs of stroke |
| 17 | in the United States this year will be greater than $62 billion, |
| 18 | and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, the majority of Americans are unaware of their |
| 20 | risk factors for a stroke and are unaware of the signs and |
| 21 | symptoms of an impending stroke, and |
| 22 | WHEREAS, statistics show that African Americans have almost |
| 23 | twice the risk of a first stroke compared to Caucasians, |
| 24 | primarily because of their increased risk of hypertension, high |
| 25 | cholesterol, and diabetes, and |
| 26 | WHEREAS, the American Stroke Association recently launched |
| 27 | the "Power to End Stroke" campaign, the goal of which is to |
| 28 | educate and empower African Americans, as well as those of other |
| 29 | ethnic groups, to fight stroke in their communities, NOW, |
| 30 | THEREFORE, |
| 31 |
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| 32 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 33 | Florida: |
| 34 |
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| 35 | That the House of Representatives recognizes May 2008 as |
| 36 | "Power to End Stroke Month" in Florida and urges all residents |
| 37 | of this state to recognize that stroke must be taken seriously |
| 38 | in order to reduce its risks. |
| 39 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives |
| 40 | urges all Floridians to support the American Stroke |
| 41 | Association's "Power to End Stroke" campaign by becoming |
| 42 | familiar with the warning signs, symptoms, and risk factors |
| 43 | associated with stroke and live stronger, healthier lives. |