Florida Senate - 2014                             (NP)    SR 430
       
       
        
       By Senator Hukill
       
       
       
       
       
       8-00080E-14                                            2014430__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the week of November 10,
    3         2014, 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 neurons
   10  that carry signals to and from the brain, controlling many
   11  bodily functions, and
   12         WHEREAS, after a spinal cord injury occurs, damaged neurons
   13  can no longer emit signals to or from the brain, and the injured
   14  person suffers permanent sensory loss and loss of muscle
   15  control, and
   16         WHEREAS, some 273,000 individuals in the United States have
   17  sustained a spinal cord injury, and
   18         WHEREAS, it is estimated that the annual incidence of
   19  spinal cord injury in the United States is about 12,000 new
   20  cases, not including those who die at the scene of an accident,
   21  and
   22         WHEREAS, age 42 is the average age for spinal cord
   23  injuries, with nearly half of all injuries occurring between the
   24  ages of 16 and 30, and
   25         WHEREAS, men are at much greater risk for spinal cord
   26  injury, with 80.7 percent of all spinal cord injuries occurring
   27  in men, and
   28         WHEREAS, the four leading causes of spinal cord injury for
   29  both men and women are auto accidents, falls, acts of violence,
   30  and recreational sporting activities, and
   31         WHEREAS, the average annual cost of care for individuals
   32  who have a spinal cord injury ranges from $340,000 to $1.04
   33  million the first year after injury, with an estimated lifetime
   34  cost ranging between $1.5 million and $4.6 million depending on
   35  the severity of injury, and
   36         WHEREAS, over the past two decades, scientists have made
   37  major breakthroughs in understanding how to encourage damaged
   38  neurons to regenerate and restore function and how to improve
   39  the quality of life for patients in areas such as infertility
   40  and pain management, and
   41         WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation has worked to help
   42  fund research aimed at finding a cure for paralysis, as well as
   43  improving the overall quality of life for individuals with
   44  paralysis, and
   45         WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will spend the week
   46  of November 10-16, 2014, working with local governments and
   47  schools to educate Floridians about the causes of and treatments
   48  for spinal cord injuries, as well as informing the public on the
   49  prevention of these injuries, NOW, THEREFORE,
   50  
   51  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   52  
   53         That November 10-16, 2014, is recognized as “Spinal Cord
   54  Injury Awareness Week” in the State of Florida.