Title: Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week

Summary: Recognizes week of November 16-22, 2015, as "Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week" in Florida.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, the spinal cord is considered the "information superhighway" of the body because it contains bundles of neurons that carry signals to and from the brain, controlling many bodily functions, and WHEREAS, after a spin al cord injury occurs, damaged neurons can no longer carry nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body, and the injured person suffers a loss of function such as mobility or feeling, and WHEREAS, currently there are approximately 276,000 individuals in the United States who have sustained a spinal cord injury, and WHEREAS, it is estimated that the annual incidence of spinal cord injury in the United States, not including those who die at the scene of an accident, is approximately 12,500 new cases each year, and WHEREAS, the average age for spinal cord injury to occur is years old, and WHEREAS, approximately percent of spinal cord injuries occur in men and nearly percent occur in women, and WHEREAS, the four leading causes of sp inal cord injury for WHEREAS, the average annual cost of care for individuals who have a spinal cord injury ranges from $342,112 to $1,048,259 the first year after injury, with an estimated lifetime cost ranging between $1,096,770 and $4,651,158 depending on the severity of injury and the age at which the injury occurred, and WHEREAS, researchers continue to make major advances in the lab in understan ding how to decrease damage at the time of injury and how to improve the quality of life for patients in areas such as infertility and health management, and WHEREAS, increasing awareness of spinal cord injuries is vital to improving the overall quality of life for individuals with paralysis and promotes the ultimate goal of finding a cure for these injuries, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida: That November-22, 2015, is recognized as "Spinal Co rd Injury Awareness Week" in the State of Florida.