IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1200 
Expressing support for designation of March as Malignant Hyperthermia 
Awareness and Training Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2010 
Mr. MCCOTTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for designation of March as Malignant 
Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month. 
Whereas Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is an autosomal 
dominant genetic muscle disorder which triggers a bio-
chemical chain reaction when susceptible individuals are 
administered volatile gaseous anesthetics like enflurane, 
sevoflurane, isoflurane, halothane, or the muscle relaxant 
succinylcholine; 
Whereas these anesthetics may cause a fast-acting, life- 
threatening crisis characterized by a rise in heart rate, 
increased body metabolism, muscle rigidity, high fever, 
cardiac arrest, brain damage, internal bleeding, or death; 
Whereas Malignant Hyperthermia could affect approximately 
1 in every 5,000 anesthetics; 
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Whereas a person’s susceptibility to the disorder may not be 
known prior to the administration of anesthesia; 
Whereas, without emergency therapy with the antidote, 
dantrolene sodium, the patient has a greater than 85 per-
cent chance of death; 
Whereas medical professionals and medical facilities should 
keep Malignant Hyperthermia training current in order 
to rapidly recognize and diagnose the disorder; 
Whereas recent research has concluded that 43 percent of 
hospitals, 68 percent of ambulatory surgery centers, and 
85 percent of oral surgery clinics in the United States do 
not have the appropriate amount of the antidote to fully 
treat a MH emergency; 
Whereas a family’s health history is an important diagnostic 
and reference tool prior to surgery; 
Whereas a patient’s safety, in part, depends on clear commu-
nication between a patient and their medical caregivers 
prior to surgery; and 
Whereas the month of March would be an appropriate month 
to designate as Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness and 
Training Month: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of Malignant 
Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month; 
(2) urges the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services in cooperation with the medical community 
to provide the public with information about Malig-
nant Hyperthermia (MH) and guidance for patients 
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and caregivers to help diagnose the disorder before 
a life-threatening crisis is triggered; 
(3) encourages medical professionals and med-
ical facilities in the United States to keep MH train-
ing current in order to rapidly recognize and diag-
nose the disorder and to maintain an appropriate 
supply of the drugs and equipment needed to suc-
cessfully treat a MH emergency; and 
(4) encourages families in the United States to 
document their health history for the benefit of fu-
ture generations. 
Æ 
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