III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 530 

Designating the week beginning October 5, 2008, as ‘‘National Sudden 

Cardiac Arrest Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 24, 2008 

Mr. DORGAN (for himself and Mr. CRAPO) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning October 5, 2008, as 

‘‘National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in 

the United States; 

Whereas sudden cardiac takes the lives of more than 250,000 

people in the United States each year, according to the 

Heart Rhythm Society; 

Whereas anyone can experience sudden cardiac arrest, including infants, high school athletes, and people in their 30s 

and 40s who have no sign of heart disease; 

Whereas sudden cardiac arrest is extremely deadly, with the 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute giving it a 

mortality rate of approximately 95 percent; 


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•SRES 530 IS 

Whereas, to have a chance of surviving an attack, the American Heart Association states that victims of sudden cardiac arrest must receive a lifesaving defibrillation within 

the first 4 to 6 minutes of an attack; 

Whereas, for every minute that passes without a shock from 

an automated external defibrillator, the chance of survival decreases by approximately 10 percent; 

Whereas lifesaving treatments for sudden cardiac arrest are 

effective if they can be administered in time; 

Whereas, according to joint research by the American College 

of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, 

implantable cardioverter defibrillators are 98 percent effective at protecting those at risk for sudden cardiac arrest; 

Whereas, according to the American Heart Association, 

cardiopulmonary resuscitation and early defibrillation 

with an automated external defibrillator more than double a victim’s chances of survival; 

Whereas the Yale-New Haven Hospital and the New England 

Journal of Medicine state that women and African-Americans are at a higher risk than the general population of 

dying as a result of sudden cardiac arrest, yet this fact 

is not well known to those at risk; 

Whereas there is a need for comprehensive educational efforts 

designed to increase awareness of sudden cardiac arrest 

and related therapies among medical professionals and 

the greater public in order to promote early detection and 

proper treatment of this disease and to improve quality 

of life; and 


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•SRES 530 IS 

Whereas early October is an appropriate time to observe National Sudden Cardiac Awareness Week: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week beginning October 5, 

3 2008, as ‘‘National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Aware4 ness Week’’; 

5 (2) supports— 

6 (A) the goals and ideals of National Sud7 den Cardiac Arrest Awareness Week; and 

8 (B) efforts to educate people about sudden 

9 cardiac arrest and to raise awareness about the 

10 risk of sudden cardiac arrest, identifying warn11 ing signs, and the need to seek medical atten12 tion in a timely manner; 

13 (3) acknowledges the critical importance of sud14 den cardiac arrest awareness to improving national 

15 cardiovascular health; and 

16 (4) calls upon the people of the United States 

17 to observe this week with appropriate programs and 

18 activities. 

Æ 


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