4398482 ACR 20-52, “CPR and AED Awareness Week Recognition Resolution of 2013”

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

 

20-52 

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

May 7, 2013

 

 

To recognize the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator awareness, and to declare June 1, 2013 through June 7, 2013, as “National CPR and AED Awareness Week” in the District of Columbia.

 

WHEREAS, heart disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in the United States and continues to be the leading cause of death;

 

WHEREAS, approximately 359,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually nationwide, and fewer than 10% of victims survive;

 

WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest occurs when a person’s heart stops beating completely, or they enter ventricular fibrillation, when their heart quivers without effectively pumping blood;

 

WHEREAS, only 41% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims nationally receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”);

 

WHEREAS, only 31 of the 215 victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in the District of Columbia in 2010 received CPR from a bystander, where only one of those bystanders used an automated external defibrillator (“AED”), and only 12 of the 31 victims survived (5.6%);

 

WHEREAS, prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles the victim’s chance of survival by helping to maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain, increasing the amount of time in which an electric shock from a defibrillator may be effective;

 

WHEREAS, an AED is safe, easy to operate, highly effective in returning a heart to its normal, effective rhythm when used by a bystander, and serves as our greatest resource to save lives when used in conjunction with Hands-Only CPR;

 

WHEREAS, for every minute without bystander CPR, survival from witnessed cardiac arrest decreases 7-10%, and with the typical longer than 5-minute interval between a 911 telephone call and the arrival of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department personnel, a cardiac arrest victim’s survival is likely to depend on a public citizen trained in CPR and AED use and access to these lifesaving devices; and

 

WHEREAS, the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the National Safety Council are preparing a public awareness and training campaign on CPR and AED use, to be held during the first week of June.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “CPR and AED Awareness Week Recognition Resolution of 2013”.

 

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia commends the efforts of the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the National Safety Council, declares June 1, 2013 through June 7, 2013, as “National CPR and AED Awareness Week” in the District of Columbia, and encourages District residents to become properly trained in CPR and AED usage.

 

Sec. 3.  This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.