[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


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                   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.