III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 468 

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

recognizing May as ‘‘National Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2012 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. CASEY, 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 recognizing May as ‘‘National Pediatric 

Stroke Awareness Month’’. 

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 stroke occurs in approximately 1 out of every 4,000 

live births, and the risk of stroke from birth through age 

18 is nearly 11 out of every 100,000 children per year; 

Whereas an individual can have a stroke before birth; 


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•SRES 468 ATS 

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

Whereas between 20 percent and 40 percent of children who 

suffer 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 between 50 and 85 percent of infants and children 

who have a pediatric stroke will have serious, permanent 

neurological disabilities, including paralysis, seizures, 

speech and vision problems, and attention, learning, and 

behavioral difficulties; 

Whereas those 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 pediatric stroke; 

Whereas medical research is the only means by which the 

citizens of the United States can identify and develop effective treatment and prevention strategies for pediatric 

stroke; and 


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•SRES 468 ATS 

Whereas early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric stroke 

greatly improves the chances that the affected child will 

recover and not experience a recurrence: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) acknowledges May as ‘‘National Pediatric 

3 Stroke Awareness Month’’; 

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

5 support the efforts, programs, services, and advocacy 

6 of organizations that work to enhance public aware7 ness of childhood stroke; 

8 (3) supports the work of the National Institutes 

9 of Health in pursuit of medical progress on the mat10 ter of pediatric stroke; and 

11 (4) urges continued coordination and coopera12 tion between government, researchers, families, and 

13 the public to improve treatments and prognoses for 

14 children who suffer strokes. 

Æ 


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