Senate Resolution No. 494

BY: Senator GALLIVAN

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul proclaim March
2025, as Blood Clot Awareness Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to help increase
awareness of serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens
of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2025, as Blood Clot
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Blood Clot Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots are a major health threat in New York State and
around the country; and

WHEREAS, Every March, Blood Clot Awareness Month provides
cardiovascular health care professionals with an opportunity to refresh
their knowledge, and help patients better understand-and reduce-their
risk; and

WHEREAS, When a blood vessel is damaged, the body responds to stop
the bleeding by the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) of platelets,
proteins, and blood cells; when bleeding stops and the body heals, the
thrombus typically breaks down and is removed by the body; and

WHEREAS, Sometimes, thrombi form when they are not needed or do not
dissolve as they should; this can cause a decrease or blockage in blood
flow; and

WHEREAS, When a thrombus or a piece of thrombus breaks off from
where it is formed and travels to another part of the body where it
blocks blood flow, it is called an embolism; an embolism is
life-threatening and may cause a stroke, heart attack, or other
complications; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Blood Clot Alliance, every minute
someone is diagnosed with a blood clot and every six minutes a blood
clot kills someone; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots do not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity
or race; they affect everyone, including infants, young children,
teenagers, people in middle age and senior citizens; across New York
State, they affect people from all walks of life; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots are the number one killer of new mothers in
childbirth; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots affect people being treated for cancer and
other chronic diseases, and people undergoing joint replacement surgery
and other surgical procedures; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots can be triggered by a genetic predisposition or
by lengthy immobility; they can affect the more than five million
Americans with heartbeat problems, which places them at heightened risk
of a clot in the heart that can travel to the brain and cause stroke and
death; and

WHEREAS, Blood clots are the leading cause of hospital readmissions
at an estimated cost of more than $10 billion of the $16 billion
expended in the treatment of blood clots at hospitals nation- wide; and

WHEREAS, Many of the risks for life-threatening blood clots increase
as people age and so too will the public health challenge; and

WHEREAS, Fortunately, many blood clots can be prevented but when
they do occur, poor outcomes including death, disease and recurrence,
can be preventable with early and accurate diagnosis and management; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2025, as Blood Clot
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.