HR 9027

1
House Resolution
2A resolution recognizing November 10-16, 2008, as "Spinal
3Cord Injury Awareness Week" in Florida.
4
5     WHEREAS, the central nervous system is made up of the brain
6and the spinal cord, the latter of which is considered the
7body's "information superhighway" because its bundles of neurons
8carry signals to and from the brain, controlling many bodily
9functions; however, after a spinal cord injury, damaged neurons
10can no longer emit signals and the injured person suffers
11permanent loss of sensory perception and muscle control, and
12     WHEREAS, there are currently between 250,000 and 400,000
13individuals in the United States who have sustained spinal cord
14injuries, and it is estimated that the annual incidence of
15spinal cord injury in the nation, not including victims who die
16at the scene of an accident, increases by roughly 11,000 new
17cases each year, and
18     WHEREAS, the leading causes of spinal cord injury are
19automobile accidents, falls, gunshot wounds, and recreational
20sporting accidents, with 80 percent of such injuries occurring
21in men and 20 percent in women, and the most common age of
22victims of spinal cord injury is 19 years, and
23     WHEREAS, during the past 15 years, scientists have made
24major breakthroughs in the understanding of how damaged neurons
25may be encouraged to regenerate and gain restored function and
26in methods designed to improve the quality of life for injured
27patients in such critical areas as infertility and pain
28management, and
29     WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which has funded
30research aimed not only at finding a cure for paralysis but also
31at improving the overall quality of life for individuals who are
32suffering from this debilitating condition, will devote the week
33of November 10-16, 2008, to working with local governments and
34schools in an effort to educate Floridians as to the causes and
35treatments of spinal cord injuries and to stress ways to prevent
36the occurrence of such injuries, NOW, THEREFORE,
37
38Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
39Florida:
40
41     That the House of Representatives recognizes the week of
42November 10-16, 2008, as "Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week" in
43Florida and urges all Floridians to make themselves aware of the
44causes and prevention of spinal cord injuries.


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