Senate Resolution No. 1938

BY: Senator HANNON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 2017, as Stroke Awareness Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
issues 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2017, as Stroke
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Stroke Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Every 40 seconds someone in the United States experiences a
stroke; and

WHEREAS, Stroke, or brain attack, is the fifth leading cause of
death in the United States, killing 129,000 people annually; stroke can
happen to anyone at anytime, regardless of race, gender, or age; and

WHEREAS, Each year, approximately 55,000 more women than men will
have a stroke; and

WHEREAS, Almost 795,000 people will experience a stroke this year;
about 610,000 are new attacks and 185,000 are recurrent attacks; and

WHEREAS, Stroke is a medical emergency; prompt treatment of a stroke
could mean the difference between life and death, complete recovery and
disability; and

WHEREAS, Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability; there are
more than seven million stroke survivors in the United States, with
two-thirds living with moderate to severe disabilities; and

WHEREAS, More than one-third of Americans cannot identify a single
symptom of stroke, such as sudden trouble talking, walking or seeing;
paralysis, usually on one side of the body; and sudden severe headache
with no known cause even though there is now an easy and F.A.S.T. (Face;
Arms, Speech and Time) stroke recognition system; and

WHEREAS, Understanding the warning signs and emergency treatment can
save lives, reduce disability, and possibly even reverse all impacts of
the stroke; and

WHEREAS, The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each
decade of life after age 55; while stroke is common among the elderly,
many people under 65 also have strokes; and

WHEREAS, Each year for the past six years, nearly 42,000 patients
have been treated for strokes at hospitals in New York State; the
estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke for 2010 was $73.7 billion;
now, therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2017, as Stroke
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Stroke Awareness Month, and to encourage all New
Yorkers to ask their doctors about stroke prevention and the warning
signs of stroke; and be it further

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