III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 215 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 12, 2007 

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of a week as ‘‘National 

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External 

Defibrillator Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas heart disease remains the leading cause of death in 

the United States; 

Whereas heart disease affects men, women, and children of 

every age and race in the United States, regardless of 

where they live; 


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HCON 215 RFS 

Whereas annually approximately 325,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur out of hospital or in an emergency 

room; 

Whereas approximately 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest 

victims die before arriving at the hospital; 

Whereas sudden cardiac arrest results from an abnormal 

heart rhythm in most adults; 

Whereas in 27.4 percent of cases of sudden cardiac arrest, 

the victim is located in a place other than a hospital and 

receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a bystander; 

Whereas prompt delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation 

more than doubles the chance of survival from sudden 

cardiac arrest by helping to maintain vital blood flow to 

the heart and brain, increasing the amount of time that 

an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective; 

Whereas an automated external defibrillator, even when used 

by a bystander, is safe, easy to operate, and highly effective in restoring a normal heart rhythm, significantly increasing the chance of survival for many victims if used 

immediately after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest; 

Whereas death or severe brain injury is likely to occur unless 

resuscitation measures are started no later than 10 minutes after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest; 

Whereas the interval between the 911 call and the arrival of 

EMS personnel is typically longer than 5 minutes, and 

achieving high survival rates therefore depends on a public trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use; and 

Whereas the American Heart Association, the American Red 

Cross, and the National Safety Council are preparing related public awareness and training campaigns on 


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HCON 215 RFS 

cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external 

defibrillation to be held during the first week of June 

each year: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) supports the goals and ideals of a National 

4 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated Ex5 ternal Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish 

6 well-organized programs to increase public training 

7 in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated ex8 ternal defibrillator use and to increase public access 

9 to automated external defibrillators; and 

10 (2) requests that the President issue a procla11 mation calling upon the people of the United States 

12 and interested organizations to observe such a week 

13 with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 

Passed the House of Representatives December 11, 

2007. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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