| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing November 16-22, 2009, as "Spinal |
| 3 | Cord Injury Awareness Week" in Florida. |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, the central nervous system is made up of two |
| 6 | parts, the brain and the spinal cord, and |
| 7 | WHEREAS, the spinal cord is considered the "information |
| 8 | superhighway" of the body because it contains bundles of neurons |
| 9 | that carry signals to and from the brain, controlling many |
| 10 | bodily functions, and |
| 11 | WHEREAS, after a spinal cord injury occurs, damaged neurons |
| 12 | can no longer emit signals to or from the brain, and the injured |
| 13 | person suffers permanent sensory loss and muscle control, and |
| 14 | WHEREAS, currently there are approximately 250,000 to |
| 15 | 400,000 individuals in the United States who have sustained a |
| 16 | spinal cord injury, and |
| 17 | WHEREAS, it is estimated that the incidence of spinal cord |
| 18 | injury in the United States, not including those who die at the |
| 19 | scene of an accident, is approximately 11,000 new cases |
| 20 | annually, and |
| 21 | WHEREAS, the most common age for spinal cord injuries is 19 |
| 22 | years old, with 30 percent of all injuries occurring between the |
| 23 | ages of 17 and 23 years and 53 percent of all injuries occurring |
| 24 | between the ages of 16 and 30 years, and |
| 25 | WHEREAS, approximately 80 percent of spinal cord injuries |
| 26 | occur in men and 20 percent occur in women, and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, the four leading causes of spinal cord injury for |
| 28 | both men and women are automobile accidents, falls, gunshot |
| 29 | wounds, and recreational sporting accidents, and |
| 30 | WHEREAS, the average annual cost of care for individuals |
| 31 | who have a spinal cord injury ranges from $250,000 to $700,000 |
| 32 | the first year after injury, with an estimated lifetime cost |
| 33 | ranging between $500,000 and $3 million depending on the |
| 34 | severity of injury, and |
| 35 | WHEREAS, in the past 15 years, scientists have made major |
| 36 | breakthroughs in understanding how to encourage damaged neurons |
| 37 | to regenerate and restore function and how to improve the |
| 38 | quality of life for patients in areas such as infertility and |
| 39 | pain management, and |
| 40 | WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation has worked to help |
| 41 | fund research aimed at finding a cure for paralysis as well as |
| 42 | improving the overall quality of life for individuals with |
| 43 | paralysis, and |
| 44 | WHEREAS, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will spend the week |
| 45 | of November 16-22 working with local governments and schools to |
| 46 | educate Floridians about the causes of and treatments for spinal |
| 47 | cord injuries as well as informing the public on how to prevent |
| 48 | these injuries from taking place, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 49 |
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| 50 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 51 | Florida: |
| 52 |
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| 53 | That November 16-22, 2009, is recognized as "Spinal Cord |
| 54 | Injury Awareness Week" in the State of Florida. |