[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 215 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 215
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 12, 2007
Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of a week as ``National Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week''.
Whereas heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States;
Whereas heart disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in
the United States, regardless of where they live;
Whereas annually approximately 325,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur out
of hospital or in an emergency room;
Whereas approximately 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before
arriving at the hospital;
Whereas sudden cardiac arrest results from an abnormal heart rhythm in most
adults;
Whereas in 27.4 percent of cases of sudden cardiac arrest, the victim is located
in a place other than a hospital and receives cardiopulmonary
resuscitation by a bystander;
Whereas prompt delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation more than doubles the
chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest by helping to maintain
vital blood flow to the heart and brain, increasing the amount of time
that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective;
Whereas an automated external defibrillator, even when used by a bystander, is
safe, easy to operate, and highly effective in restoring a normal heart
rhythm, significantly increasing the chance of survival for many victims
if used immediately after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest;
Whereas death or severe brain injury is likely to occur unless resuscitation
measures are started no later than 10 minutes after the onset of sudden
cardiac arrest;
Whereas the interval between the 911 call and the arrival of EMS personnel is
typically longer than 5 minutes, and achieving high survival rates
therefore depends on a public trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
and automated external defibrillator use; and
Whereas the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the National
Safety Council are preparing related public awareness and training
campaigns on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external
defibrillation to be held during the first week of June each year: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of a National
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External
Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish well-organized
programs to increase public training in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use and to
increase public access to automated external defibrillators;
and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States and interested
organizations to observe such a week with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
Passed the House of Representatives December 11, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.