Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 54
CHAPTER 53
Relative to American Stroke Month.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 20, 2013.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 54, Jones-Sawyer.
American Stroke Month 2013.
This measure would declare May 2013 to be American Stroke Month in California.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the third leading cause of death in California, killing approximately 13,506 citizens of California each year; and
WHEREAS, Stroke prevalence is projected to increase in the United States by 24.9 percent between 2010 and 2030, and the direct medical costs for treating stroke are expected to increase by 238 percent, from $28.3 billion in 2010 to $95.6 billion by 2030; and
WHEREAS, New and effective treatments have been developed to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effect of strokes, but much more research is needed; and
WHEREAS, Americans are more aware of the risk factors and warning signs for stroke than in the past, but according to a recent survey, one-third of adults cannot identify any symptoms; and
WHEREAS, The F.A.S.T. warning signs and symptoms of stroke include face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call 9-1-1. Beyond F.A.S.T., additional stroke warning signs and symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and sudden severe headache with no known cause; and
WHEREAS, A new study by the American Stroke Association shows that the quick actions by emergency medical services (EMS) professionals are instrumental in saving lives from stroke and producing better outcomes for stroke survivors, but more than one-third of stroke patients fail to use EMS; and
WHEREAS, Throughout American Stroke Month 2013, the American Stroke Association will honor those EMS professionals and stroke survivors who have acted F.A.S.T. in a stroke emergency to save lives by highlighting and sharing their stories; and
WHEREAS, The American Stroke Association’s “Power To End Stroke” awareness campaign will increase physical activity in at-risk populations through the online Power Fitness challenge. The challenge will track individual’s physical activity through a mobile application or device and encourage them to make exercise a daily activity through prize offerings and community support; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares May 2013 to be American Stroke Month in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges all Californians to familiarize themselves with the risk factors associated with stroke, to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of stroke, and, at the first signs of a stroke, to dial 911 immediately in order to begin to reduce the devastating effects of stroke on our population; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author and to the Secretary of the Senate for appropriate distribution.