| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing November 14-20, 2011, 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 loss of muscle |
| 14 | control, and |
| 15 | WHEREAS, currently there are approximately 262,000 |
| 16 | individuals in the United States who have sustained a spinal |
| 17 | cord injury, and |
| 18 | WHEREAS, it is estimated that the annual incidence of |
| 19 | spinal cord injury in the United States, not including those who |
| 20 | die at the scene of an accident, is approximately 12,000 new |
| 21 | cases each year, and |
| 22 | WHEREAS, the most common age for spinal cord injuries is 19 |
| 23 | years old, with 25 percent of all injuries occurring between the |
| 24 | ages of 17 and 23, and 51 percent of all injuries occurring |
| 25 | between the ages of 16 and 30, and |
| 26 | WHEREAS, more than 80 percent of spinal cord injuries occur |
| 27 | in men and nearly 20 percent occur in women, 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 $245,000 to $830,000 |
| 33 | the first year after injury, with an estimated lifetime cost |
| 34 | ranging between $529,000 and $3.3 million depending on the |
| 35 | severity of injury, and |
| 36 | WHEREAS, in the past 17 years, scientists have made major |
| 37 | breakthroughs in understanding how to encourage damaged neurons |
| 38 | to regenerate and restore function and how to improve the |
| 39 | quality of life for patients in areas such as infertility and |
| 40 | 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 14-20, 2011, 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 how |
| 49 | to prevent these injuries from taking place, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 50 |
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| 51 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 52 | Florida: |
| 53 |
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| 54 | That November 14-20, 2011, is recognized as "Spinal Cord |
| 55 | Injury Awareness Week" in the State of Florida. |