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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-5
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
February 3, 2015
To declare February 6, 2015, as “National Wear Red Day” in the District of Columbia and to urge all citizens to show their support for women and their fight against heart disease by commemorating this day by wearing the color red in hopes of increasing awareness, knowledge, and discussions of heart disease, and empowering women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, so that we may save thousands of lives each year.
WHEREAS, heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet 80% of cardiac events can be prevented;
WHEREAS, cardiovascular diseases cause one in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute;
WHEREAS, an estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases;
WHEREAS, African-Americans have the highest rate of heart disease in the District, with the highest prevalence rates in Wards 6, 7, and 8, and the highest death rates in Wards 5 and 7;
WHEREAS, 1,300 District residents die from heart disease each year, more than half of which are women;
WHEREAS, 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, yet only one in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat;
WHEREAS, since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease;
WHEREAS, women comprise only 24% of participants in all heart-related studies;
WHEREAS, women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are if someone else were having a heart attack;
WHEREAS, only 43% of African American women and 44% of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with 60% of Caucasian women;
WHEREAS, women involved with the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement live healthier lives, and nearly 90% have made at least one healthy behavior change;
WHEREAS, Go Red For Women is asking all Americans to Go Red by wearing red and speaking red:
o Get Your Numbers: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol.
o Own Your Lifestyle: Stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and eat healthy.
o Raise Your Voice: Advocate for more women-related research and education.
o Educate Your Family: Make healthy food choices for you and your family. Teach your kids the importance of staying active.
o Don’t be silent: Tell every woman you know that heart disease is their No. 1 killer. Raise your voice at GoRedForWomen.org; and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes and supports the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement and urges citizens to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease and stroke during the month of February through the wearing and presentation of the color red.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council declares February 6, 2015, as the “National Wear Red Day” in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “National Wear Red Day Recognition Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
