[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY DAY

  A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 225) designating November 1, 1994, as 
``National Family Literacy Day,'' as passed by the Senate on October 7, 
1994, is as follows:

                             S.J. Res. 225

       Whereas the problem of burn injuries and death in the 
     United States is one of the worst of any industrialized 
     nation in the world;
       Whereas burn injuries are one of the leading causes of 
     accidental death in the United States;
       Whereas every year over 2,000,000 people in the United 
     States are victims of some form of burn injury, and children 
     account for between \1/3\ and \1/2\ of this total;
       Whereas of the number of people injured by burns, over 
     70,000 are hospitalized, resulting in 9,000,000 disability 
     days and $100,000,000 in costs annually;
       Whereas over 6,000 people die from burn injuries annually, 
     and the rehabilitative and psychological impact of burns is 
     devastating;
       Whereas young children are in the highest risk group 
     suffering from hot liquid burns and injuries caused by child 
     fire play and fire setting;
       Whereas older adults and the disabled are also at great 
     risk and extremely susceptible to burn injuries;
       Whereas burn survivors often face years of costly 
     reconstructive surgery and extensive physical and 
     psychological rehabilitation in overcoming disabilities and 
     fears of rejection by family members, friends, coworkers, 
     schoolmates, and the general public;
       Whereas it is estimated that approximately 75 percent of 
     all burn injuries and deaths could be prevented by a 
     comprehensive national educational and awareness campaign and 
     by changes in the design and technology of homes and consumer 
     products;
       Whereas general public awareness of the need for smoke 
     detectors and home fire escape plans, in combination with an 
     understanding of the risk associated with items in the home 
     environment, can cause a reduction of injuries and loss of 
     life; and
       Whereas there is a need for an effective national problem 
     that deals with all aspects of burn injuries and burn 
     prevention: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     weeks of February 5, 1995, through February 11, 1995, and 
     February 4, 1996, through February 10, 1996, are each 
     designated as ``National Burn Awareness Week''. The President 
     is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling 
     on the people of the United States and all Federal, State, 
     and local governments officials to observe the weeks with 
     appropriate programs and activities.

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