[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 457 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 457

Encouraging individuals to seek training in the use of cardiopulmonary 
 resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 3, 2011

  Mr. Roe of Tennessee submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Encouraging individuals to seek training in the use of cardiopulmonary 
 resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and 
                          for other purposes.

Whereas heart disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in 
        the United States, and it continues to be the leading cause of death in 
        America;
Whereas approximately 295,000 emergency medical services-treated out-of-hospital 
        cardiac arrests occur annually nationwide;
Whereas only 8 percent of individuals who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest outside 
        of a hospital setting survive;
Whereas sudden cardiac arrest results from an abnormal heart rhythm in most 
        adults, often ventricular fibrillation;
Whereas, unfortunately, only 31 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 
        victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
Whereas individuals can die of sudden cardiac arrest within minutes, and rapid 
        response to sudden cardiac arrest with both CPR and an automated 
        external defibrillator (AED) are critical in helping a victim survive;
Whereas prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles the victim's chance of survival 
        by helping to maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain, 
        increasing the amount of time in which an electric shock from a 
        defibrillator may be effective;
Whereas, moreover, an AED, even when used by a bystander, is safe, easy to 
        operate, and, if used immediately after the onset of sudden cardiac 
        arrest, highly effective in terminating ventricular fibrillation so the 
        heart can resume a normal, effective rhythm;
Whereas for every minute without bystander CPR, survival from witnessed cardiac 
        arrest decreases 7 to 10 percent; and
Whereas the interval between the 911 telephone call and the arrival of emergency 
        medical services personnel is usually longer than 5 minutes; therefore, 
        a cardiac arrest victim's survival is likely to depend on a public 
        trained in CPR and AED use and access to these lifesaving measures: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) encourages individuals to seek training in the use of 
        CPR and AEDs; and
            (2) encourages bystanders to use hands-only CPR and AEDs 
        for the purpose of saving the life of another person in cardiac 
        arrest.
                                 <all>