AMENDED IN SENIOR ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 21, 2008
SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 7
INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR KIM-SELBY
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SP 7: STROKE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONDUCTS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS FOR VARIOUS DISEASES AND CONDITIONS.
THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT A STROKE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT THE INCIDENCE OF STROKES IN CALIFORNIA.
VOTE: MAJORITY.
SP 7: RELATING TO STROKE EDUCATION
WHEREAS, STROKES ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ADULT LONG-TERM DISABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES, STRIKING 750,000 PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ANNUALLY, AND ARE THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, KILLING MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY; AND
WHEREAS, STROKES KILL MORE THAN 16,000 CALIFORNIANS EACH YEAR; AND
WHEREAS, SOMEONE SUFFERS A STROKE EVERY 45 SECONDS AND EVERY THREE AND ONE-TENTHS MINUTES SOMEONE DIES OF A STROKE. STROKES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ESTIMATED $40 BILLION IN ANNUAL HEALTH CARE COSTS AND LOST PRODUCTIVITY EACH YEAR; AND
WHEREAS, TWO-THIRDS OF ALL STROKE SURVIVORS ARE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND EMOTIONAL EFFECTS; AND
WHEREAS, CONTRARY TO COMMON BELIEF THAT STROKES OCCUR PRIMARILY IN OLDER PEOPLE, ONE-HALF OF ALL STROKE VICTIMS ARE UNDER 50 YEARS OF AGE; AND
WHEREAS, TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK, WHICH SOMETIMES PRECEDES AN ISCHEMIC STROKE, MAY ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 83 PERCENT OF ALL STROKES, BUT THE SYMPTOMS OF WHICH DISAPPEAR WITHIN FIVE MINUTES TO 24 HOURS; AND
WHEREAS, A KEY FEATURE OF A STROKE IS THAT IT IS UNEXPECTED AND DEVELOPS SUDDENLY. UP TO 50 PERCENT OF ALL STROKES OCCUR IN PEOPLE WHO SHOW NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A PRIOR STROKE FACE A NINE TIMES GREATER RISK OF HAVING ANOTHER STROKE, AND A TWO TIMES GREATER RISK OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK, COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION’S RISK; AND
WHEREAS, STROKES ARE PREVENTABLE IF ONE HAS AN APPRECIATION OF THE RISK FACTORS OF AGE, SEX, PRIOR STROKE, FAMILY HISTORY OF STROKES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SMOKING, DIABETES MELLITUS, CAROTID ARTERY DISEASE, LACK OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE, LACK OF A HEALTHY DIET, AND TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK; AND
WHEREAS, PEOPLE MUST BE EDUCATED WITH REGARD TO THE SYMPTOMS OF A STROKE, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION, 74 PERCENT OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION DOES NOT KNOW THE MOST COMMON WARNING SIGNS OF A STROKE. THESE WARNING SIGNS INCLUDE SUDDEN NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS IN AN ARM, LEG, OR FACE ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE BODY, UNEXPECTED SEVERE HEADACHE WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE, SUDDEN CONFUSION, TROUBLE SPEAKING OR UNDERSTANDING, SUDDEN VISION PROBLEMS IN ONE OR BOTH EYES, UNEXPLAINED DIZZINESS, AND SUDDEN TROUBLE WALKING OR LOSS OF BALANCE OR COORDINATION; AND
WHEREAS, SHOULD ANY STROKE SYMPTOMS APPEAR, THE PERSON OR HIS OR HER FAMILY SHOULD CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY TO MEET THE THREE TO NINE HOUR PERIOD NECESSARY TO RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL TREATMENT; AND
WHEREAS, MEDICAL RESPONSE TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT AS THERE ARE MEDICINES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CRUCIAL THREE HOUR WINDOW PERIOD AFTER A STROKE FOR THE TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR, OR THE CRUCIAL NINE HOUR WINDOW PERIOD FOR DESMOTEPLASE FROM SALIVA OF VAMPIRE BATS; AND
WHEREAS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING SHOULD COORDINATE EFFORTS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS AND AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AS WELL AS TO SENIOR CENTERS AND SENIOR ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND OTHER SENIOR NETWORK STAKEHOLDERS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT ESTABLISHMENT OF A STROKE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF STROKE. THE STROKE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SHALL CONSIST OF SEMINAR PROGRAMS IN VARIOUS FACILITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HOSPITALS, SENIOR CENTERS, SENIOR HOUSING ESTABLISHMENTS, MOBILE HOME PARKS, FAMILY COMPLEX HOUSING PROJECTS, AND BINGO PARLORS. THESE PROGRAMS SHALL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE PUBLIC, AND PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CAREGIVERS, HOSPITAL PERSONNEL, AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. THE PROGRAM SHALL ALSO INCLUDE SUCH CAMPAIGNING AS PROVIDING STROKE SYMPTOM FLYERS IN PUBLIC PLACES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CLUBS, HOTEL AND MOTEL GUEST ROOMS, RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES, CHURCHES, NEWS MEDIA, AND ALL SENIOR GROUP ORGANIZATIONS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
RN 08 22064
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