Florida Senate - 2009                             (NP)    SR 972
       
       
       
       By Senator Hill
       
       
       
       
       1-01027-09                                             2009972__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution urging support of the American Stroke
    3         Association's “Power to End Stroke” campaign and
    4         recognizing May 2009 as “Power to End Stroke Month” in
    5         Florida.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the
    8  United States, striking about 700,000 Americans each year and
    9  killing 150,000, and
   10         WHEREAS, stroke is also a leading cause of serious long
   11  term disability in the United States, with more than 1.1 million
   12  adults experiencing functional limitations or difficulty with
   13  activities of daily living resulting from stroke, and
   14         WHEREAS, on the average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds
   15  in the United States and takes a life every 3 minutes, and
   16         WHEREAS, the estimated direct and indirect costs of stroke
   17  in the United States this year will be more than $62 billion,
   18  and
   19         WHEREAS, the majority of Americans are unaware of their
   20  risk factors for a stroke and are unaware of the signs and
   21  symptoms of an impending stroke, and
   22         WHEREAS, statistics show that African Americans have almost
   23  twice the risk of a first stroke compared to Caucasians,
   24  primarily because of their increased risk of hypertension, high
   25  cholesterol, and diabetes, and
   26         WHEREAS, the American Stroke Association in 2008 launched
   27  the “Power to End Stroke” campaign, the goal of which is to
   28  educate and empower African Americans, as well as those of other
   29  ethnic groups, to fight stroke in their communities, NOW,
   30  THEREFORE,
   31  
   32  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   33         
   34         That the Senate recognizes May 2009 as “Power to End Stroke
   35  Month” in Florida and urges all residents of this state to
   36  recognize that stroke must be taken seriously in order to reduce
   37  its risks.
   38         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate urges all Floridians
   39  to support the American Stroke Association's “Power to End
   40  Stroke” campaign by becoming familiar with the warning signs,
   41  symptoms, and risk factors associated with stroke and living
   42  stronger, healthier lives.