[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5431-5432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3000]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 5431]]

                Proclamation 7521 of February 1, 2002

                
American Heart Month, 2002

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                A new era in the prevention and treatment of 
                cardiovascular diseases has created renewed hope for 
                those suffering from heart-related disorders. 
                Anticoagulant drugs and other technologically 
                innovative artery-opening treatments, like angioplasty, 
                are enabling doctors to better treat cardiovascular 
                problems in their early stages. Armed with the 
                knowledge that lifestyle plays a significant role in 
                the prevention of heart disease, more and more 
                Americans have recognized the importance of not 
                smoking, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a 
                healthy diet.

                Despite these advances, cardiovascular disease, 
                including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading 
                cause of death in the United States and greatly 
                increases disability among Americans. This year, 
                cardiovascular disease will be the primary or 
                contributing cause in about 60 percent of all deaths 
                and will cost our Nation more than $330 billion in lost 
                wages, diminished productivity, and medical expenses. 
                It is a little known fact that heart disease is the 
                leading cause of death among women, with over 370,000 
                deaths every year.

                According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, most 
                heart attack patients wait more than 2 hours before 
                seeking emergency care, primarily because they do not 
                recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. Delayed 
                awareness of the onset of a heart attack means that 
                only one in five heart attack victims gets to the 
                hospital quickly enough to benefit from life-saving 
                medical treatments.

                Fortunately, many new public-private partnerships are 
                working to educate Americans about the warning signs of 
                a heart attack and the need for rapid response. The 
                National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the 
                American Heart Association have recently joined with 
                other national organizations to sponsor a campaign 
                called ``Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs.'' This 
                public awareness initiative emphasizes preventing heart 
                attacks, recognizing sometimes subtle heart attack 
                symptoms, and immediately calling 911 when those 
                symptoms first appear.

                The AHA has developed an educational campaign, 
                ``Operation Heartbeat,'' that focuses on reducing 
                sudden deaths from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest, an 
                abnormal heart rhythm that stops the heart from 
                effectively pumping blood through the body, usually 
                results in death within 10 to 14 minutes. Currently, 
                only about five percent of those who experience sudden 
                cardiac arrest survive. Operation Heartbeat is 
                educating the public about the signs of cardiac arrest, 
                reinforcing the importance of calling 911 immediately 
                and promoting the benefits of knowing and administering 
                cardiopulmonary resuscitation, until advanced care can 
                be given to restore a normal heartbeat.

                At this observance of American Heart Month, we pay 
                tribute to the researchers, physicians, and other 
                health professionals, public education professionals, 
                and volunteers for their tireless efforts in 
                preventing, treating, and researching heart disease. We 
                recognize the critical importance of developing tools 
                that will increase survival rates from heart attacks 
                and cardiac arrest.

[[Page 5432]]

                By incorporating these new tools into aggressive 
                education programs and partnerships, we can save tens 
                of thousands of lives annually.

                In recognition of the important needs in the ongoing 
                fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by 
                Joint Resolution approved December 30, 1963, as amended 
                (77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the 
                President issue an annual proclamation designating 
                February as ``American Heart Month.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim February 2002 as American 
                Heart Month. I invite the Governors of the States, the 
                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas 
                subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and 
                the American people to join me in reaffirming our 
                commitment to combating cardiovascular disease and 
                stroke.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of February, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand two, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-3000
Filed 2-5-02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P