2011-J5010
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 1-7, 2012, as CPR-AED Awareness Week in the State of New
York
WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing serious
health concerns, proclaiming official weeks to increase awareness of
such concerns, which affect thousands of New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 1-7, 2012, as CPR-AED
Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the obser-
vance of National CPR-AED Awareness Week; and
WHEREAS, Heart disease affects men, women, and children of every age
and race in the United States, and it continues to be the leading cause
of death in America; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 383,000 emergency medical services-treated
out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Roughly 89 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die
before being discharged from a hospital; sudden cardiac arrest results
from an abnormal heart rhythm in most adults, often ventricular fibril-
lation; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, only 41 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac
arrest victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
and
WHEREAS, Prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles the victim's chance
of survival by helping to maintain vital blood flow to the heart and
brain, increasing the amount of time in which an electric shock from a
defibrillator may be effective; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, an automated external defibrillator (AED), even
when used by a bystander, is safe, easy to operate and, if used imme-
diately after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest, highly effective in
terminating ventricular fibrillation so the heart can resume a normal,
effective rhythm; and
WHEREAS, For every minute without bystander CPR, survival from
witnessed cardiac arrest decreases 7-10 percent; the interval between
the 911 telephone call and the arrival of Emergency Medical Services
personnel is usually longer than five minutes; therefore, a cardiac
arrest victim's survival is likely to depend on a public trained in CPR
and AED use and access to these lifesaving devices; and
WHEREAS, The American Heart Association, the American Red Cross and
the National Safety Council are preparing a public awareness and train-
ing campaign on CPR and AED use, to be held during the first week of
June; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the critical importance of
increasing the survival rate from cardiac arrest and of incorporating
the tools of CPR and Automated External Defibrillation into aggressive
programs in order to save thousands of lives each year; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 1-7, 2012, as
CPR-AED Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.