III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 163 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to childhood stroke and 

designating an appropriate date as ‘‘National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2009 

Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. CHAMBLISS) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to childhood 

stroke and designating an appropriate date as ‘‘National 

Childhood Stroke Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas a stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident, 

is an acute neurologic injury that occurs when the blood 

supply to a part of the brain is interrupted by a clot in 

the artery or a burst of the artery; 

Whereas a stroke is a medical emergency that can cause permanent neurologic damage or even death if not promptly 

diagnosed and treated; 

Whereas 26 out of every 100,000 newborns and almost 3 out 

of every 100,000 children have a stroke each year; 

Whereas an individual can have a stroke before birth; 


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•SRES 163 ATS 

Whereas stroke is among the top 10 causes of death for children in the United States; 

Whereas 9 percent of all children who experience a stroke die 

as a result; 

Whereas stroke recurs in 20 percent of children who have experienced a stroke; 

Whereas the death rate for children who experience a stroke 

before the age of 1 year is the highest out of all age 

groups; 

Whereas the average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of stroke is 24 hours, putting many affected children outside the window of 3 hours for the most successful treatment; 

Whereas many children who experience a stroke will suffer 

serious, long-term neurological disabilities, including— 

(1) hemiplegia, which is paralysis of 1 side of the 

body; 

(2) seizures; 

(3) speech and vision problems; and 

(4) learning difficulties; 

Whereas such disabilities may require ongoing physical therapy and surgeries; 

Whereas the permanent health concerns and treatments resulting from strokes that occur during childhood and 

young adulthood have a considerable impact on children, 

families, and society; 

Whereas very little is known about the cause, treatment, and 

prevention of childhood stroke; 

Whereas medical research is the only means by which the 

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•SRES 163 ATS 

fective treatment and prevention strategies for childhood 

stroke; 

Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of childhood stroke 

greatly improves the chances that the affected child will 

recover and not experience a recurrence; and 

Whereas The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia should be 

commended for its initiative in creating the Nation’s first 

program dedicated to pediatric stroke patients: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of an appropriate 

3 date as ‘‘National Childhood Stroke Awareness 

4 Day’’; and 

5 (2) urges the people of the United States to 

6 support the efforts, programs, services, and advocacy 

7 of organizations that work to enhance public aware8 ness of childhood stroke. 

Æ 


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