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; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:14 Dec 13, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC215.RFS
HC215
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
HCON 215 RFS 
Whereas annually approximately 325,000 coronary heart dis-
ease 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 effec-
tive in restoring a normal heart rhythm, significantly in-
creasing 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 min-
utes 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 pub-
lic trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and auto-
mated external defibrillator use; and 
Whereas the American Heart Association, the American Red 
Cross, and the National Safety Council are preparing re-
lated public awareness and training campaigns on 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:14 Dec 13, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC215.RFS
HC215
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
HCON 215 RFS 
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external 
defibrillation to be held during the first week of June 
each year: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of a National 
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated Ex-
ternal Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish 
well-organized programs to increase public training 
in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated ex-
ternal defibrillator use and to increase public access 
to automated external defibrillators; and 
(2) requests that the President issue a procla-
mation calling upon the people of the United States 
and interested organizations to observe such a week 
with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 11, 
2007. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:14 Dec 13, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC215.RFS
HC215
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS