[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMERICAN HEART MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN F. TIERNEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2001

  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in recognizing 
February as American Heart Month and in commending the 22.5 million 
volunteers and supporters committed to combating heart disease. 
Clearly, all citizens should ``Be Prepared for Cardiac Emergencies. 
Know the signs of cardiac arrest. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Give CPR.''
  Paralysis, weakness, decreased sensation, numbness, tingling, 
decreased vision, slurred speech or the inability to speak, loss of 
memory and physical coordination, difficulty swallowing, lack of 
bladder control, mental capacity declines, mood changes, dysfunctional, 
uncontrollable, and unpredictable movement, shortness or loss of 
breath, fainting, and fatigue are all signs associated with cardiac 
arrest.
  Immediate response to signs of cardiac arrest is imperative as 
seconds and minutes make the difference between life, the quality of 
life, and death. Every 29 seconds, someone in America suffers a heart 
attack, and every 60 seconds someone dies as a result of the same. 
While we have the luxury of emergency ambulatory responses as a result 
of 9-1-1, if we act while waiting on trained professionals to arrive, 
we can make a meaningful difference. For this reason, we should all 
encourage broader knowledge of CPR.
  As medical professionals have said, when the heart is under attack, 
blood is not flowing to parts of the body, such as the brain, that 
solely rely on it for functioning, and permanent damage to the brain 
can occur if blood flow is not restored within four minutes. As a 
result, if life is sustained, the quality of life may be significantly 
diminished as irreversible harm often takes place. I am hopeful that 
those who have regular contact with loved ones at risk will be trained 
in CPR.
  I applaud the American Heart Association and other organizations 
nationwide that educate and train all of us to be properly prepared for 
cardiac arrest by providing education that informs us about the causes 
and signs of heart disease and the skills necessary to react to these 
unfortunate episodes when they occur. Also, I thank my colleagues for 
pausing to recognize these organizations for their ongoing efforts in 
this vital area.

                          ____________________