III
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 184
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 1, 2007
Mr. Chambliss (for himself and Mr. Casey) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate with
respect to childhood stroke and designating May 5, 2007, as National
Childhood Stroke Awareness Day
.
Whereas a stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular
accident
, is an acute neurologic injury that occurs when the blood
supply to a part of the brain is interrupted by a clot in the artery or a burst
of the artery;
Whereas a stroke is a medical emergency that can cause permanent neurologic damage or even death if not promptly diagnosed and treated;
Whereas 26 out of every 100,000 newborns and almost 3 out of every 100,000 children have a stroke each year;
Whereas an individual can have a stroke before birth;
Whereas stroke is among the top 10 causes of death for children in the United States;
Whereas 12 percent of all children who experience a stroke die as a result;
Whereas the death rate for children who experience a stroke before the age of 1 year is the highest out of all age groups;
Whereas many children who experience a stroke will suffer serious, long-term neurological disabilities, including—
hemiplegia, which is paralysis of 1 side of the body;
seizures;
speech and vision problems; and
learning difficulties;
Whereas those disabilities may require ongoing physical therapy and surgeries;
Whereas the permanent health concerns and treatments resulting from strokes that occur during childhood and young adulthood have a considerable impact on children, families, and society;
Whereas very little is known about the cause, treatment, and prevention of childhood stroke;
Whereas medical research is the only means by which the citizens of the United States can identify and develop effective treatment and prevention strategies for childhood stroke;
Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of childhood stroke greatly improves the chances that the affected child will recover and not experience a recurrence; and
Whereas the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia should be commended for its initiative in creating the Nation’s first program dedicated to pediatric stroke patients: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
designates May 5,
2007 as National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day
; and
urges the people of the United States to support the efforts, programs, services, and advocacy of organizations that work to enhance public awareness of childhood stroke.