Florida Senate - 2014                            (NP)    SR 1730
       
       
        
       By Senator Hukill
       
       
       
       
       
       8-00079B-14                                           20141730__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing May 2014 as “American Stroke
    3         Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the
    6  United States, striking more than 700,000 Americans each year
    7  and killing 129,000, including 8,324 Floridians, and
    8         WHEREAS, stroke is also a leading cause of serious long
    9  term disability in the United States, with more than 1.1 million
   10  adults experiencing functional limitations or difficulty with
   11  activities of daily living resulting from stroke, and
   12         WHEREAS, on the average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds
   13  and takes a life every 4 minutes in the United States, and
   14         WHEREAS, this year, the estimated direct and indirect costs
   15  of stroke in the United States will be more than $73.7 billion,
   16  and
   17         WHEREAS, many Americans are unaware of their risk factors
   18  for a stroke and of the signs and symptoms of an impending
   19  stroke, and
   20         WHEREAS, statistics show that African Americans have almost
   21  twice the risk of a first stroke compared to Caucasians, in part
   22  because of their increased risk of high blood pressure and
   23  diabetes, and
   24         WHEREAS, the American Stroke Association’s “Together to End
   25  Stroke” initiative, which begins on May 1 with the American
   26  Stroke “Day of Action” and continues year-round, encourages
   27  Americans to learn their personal stroke risk, memorize and
   28  share the stroke warning signs, and call 911 at the first sign
   29  of a stroke, and
   30         WHEREAS, new and effective treatments have been developed
   31  to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effects of
   32  strokes, but much more research is needed, NOW, THEREFORE,
   33  
   34  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   35  
   36         That May 2014 is recognized as “American Stroke Month” in
   37  Florida and that all residents of this state are urged to
   38  familiarize themselves with the risk factors associated with
   39  stroke and the warning signs and symptoms of stroke and, at the
   40  first sign of a stroke, to dial 911 so that we might begin to
   41  reduce the devastating effects of stroke on our population, so
   42  that Floridians may live stronger, healthier lives.