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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-276
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 28, 2014
To acknowledge and honor Wednesday, October 29, 2014, as World Stroke Day in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, each year, more than 6 million lives are lost to stroke worldwide and one in 6 people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime;
WHEREAS, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the 4th-leading cause of death in the United States, killing about 130,000 people nationwide, and the 3rd leading cause of death in the District of Columbia, killing almost 200 citizens of the District each year;
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia is part of the stroke belt—an 8 to 12 state region that historically has had stroke death rates that are 10 percent higher than the rest of the nation;
WHEREAS, 4.6 percent of adults living in the District of Columbia have had a stroke compared to 2.6 percent of adults nationally, with adults who reside in Wards 5, 7, and 8 being more likely than adults in all other wards to have had a stroke;
WHEREAS, stroke prevalence is projected to increase by 24.9 percent between 2010 and 2030 and the direct medical costs for treating stroke are expected to increase by 238 percent, from $28.3 billion in 2010 to $95.6 billion by 2030;
WHEREAS, new and effective treatments have been developed to treat and minimize the severity and damaging effect of strokes, although more research is needed;
WHEREAS, Americans are more aware of the risk factors and warning signs for stroke than in the past, but according to a recent survey, one-third of adults cannot identify any symptoms;
WHEREAS, the American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke campaign helps people learn how to recognize and respond to stroke warning signs using the acronym F.A.S.T., where F stands for Face Drooping, A stands for Arm Weakness, S stands for Speech Difficulty, and T means Time to call 9-1-1 if any signs are present;
WHEREAS, throughout World Stroke Day the American Stroke Association will encourage Americans to learn and spread the stroke warning signs by downloading the F.A.S.T. mobile application at strokeassociation.org/warningsigns; and
WHEREAS, the American Stroke Association, in collaboration with stroke organizations throughout the world, will encourage the public to wear the Stroke Solidarity String, which serves as a universal symbol to unite the world in the fight against stroke.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia hereby declares Wednesday, October 29, 2014, as World Stroke Day to urge all the citizens of our city to familiarize themselves with the risk factors associated with stroke, recognize the warning signs and symptoms, and on first signs of a stroke dial 9-1-1 immediately so that we might begin to reduce the devastating effects of stroke on population in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “World Stroke Day Recognition Resolution of 2014”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
