California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 54

Introduced by Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer

April 24, 2013

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 54—Relative to American Stroke Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 54, as introduced, Jones-Sawyer. American Stroke Month 2013.

This measure would declare May 2013 to be American Stroke Month in California.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term
disability and the third leading cause of death in California, killing
approximately 13,506 citizens of California each year; and

WHEREAS, Stroke prevalence is projected to increase in the
United States by 24.9 percent between 2010 and 2030, and the
direct medical costs for treating stroke are expected to increase by
238 percent, from $28.3 billion in 2010 to $95.6 billion by 2030;
and

WHEREAS, New and effective treatments have been developed
to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effect of strokes,
but much more research is needed; and

WHEREAS, Americans are more aware of the risk factors and
warning signs for stroke than in the past, but according to a recent
survey, one-third of adults cannot identify any symptoms; and

WHEREAS, The F.A.S.T. warning signs and symptoms of
stroke include face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and
time to call 9-1-1. Beyond F.A.S.T., additional stroke warning
signs and symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the
face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, sudden
confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble
seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss
of balance or coordination, and sudden severe headache with no
known cause; and

WHEREAS, A new study by the American Stroke Association
shows that the quick actions by emergency medical services (EMS)
professionals are instrumental in saving lives from stroke and
producing better outcomes for stroke survivors, but more than
one-third of stroke patients fail to use EMS; and

WHEREAS, Throughout American Stroke Month 2013, the
American Stroke Association will honor those EMS professionals
and stroke survivors who have acted F.A.S.T. in a stroke
emergency to save lives by highlighting and sharing their stories;
and

WHEREAS, The American Stroke Association’s “Power To
End Stroke” awareness campaign will increase physical activity
in at-risk populations through the online Power Fitness challenge.
The challenge will track individual’s physical activity through a
mobile application or device and encourage them to make exercise
a daily activity through prize offerings and community support;
now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares May 2013 to be
American Stroke Month in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges all Californians to
familiarize themselves with the risk factors associated with stroke,
to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of stroke, and, at
the first signs of a stroke, to dial 911 immediately in order to begin
to reduce the devastating effects of stroke on our population; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author and to the Secretary of the Senate
for appropriate distribution.