Senate Resolution 148 - Introduced
PAG LIN
S.R. ________ H.R. ________
1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO.
1 2 BY DANIELSON, SCHOENJAHN, HANCOCK, KETTERING,
1 3 and JOHNSON
1 4 A Resolution recognizing the lifesaving benefits of
1 5 automatic external defibrillator devices,
1 6 acknowledging the importance of raising public
1 7 awareness of their availability, and encouraging
1 8 persons to obtain appropriate training.
1 9 WHEREAS, more than 700 lives are lost each day as a
1 10 result of sudden cardiac arrest in the United States;
1 11 and
1 12 WHEREAS, two out of every three sudden cardiac
1 13 deaths occur before the victim is able to reach a
1 14 hospital; and
1 15 WHEREAS, more than 95 percent of cardiac arrest
1 16 victims will die, many because of a lack of readily
1 17 available lifesaving equipment; and
1 18 WHEREAS, up to 30 percent of cardiac arrest victims
1 19 could be saved if victims had access to immediate
1 20 medical response with current medical technology,
1 21 including defibrillation and cardiopulmonary
1 22 resuscitation; and
1 23 WHEREAS, once a victim has suffered a cardiac
1 24 arrest, every minute that passes before returning the
1 25 heart to a normal rhythm decreases the chance of
1 26 survival by 10 percent; and
1 27 WHEREAS, most cardiac arrests are caused by an
1 28 abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation,
1 29 which occurs when the heart's electrical system
1 30 malfunctions, causing a chaotic rhythm that prevents
2 1 the heart from pumping oxygen to the victim's brain
2 2 and body; and
2 3 WHEREAS, communities that have implemented programs
2 4 ensuring widespread public access to automatic
2 5 external defibrillators (AEDs), combined with
2 6 appropriate training, maintenance, and coordination
2 7 with local emergency medical systems, have
2 8 dramatically improved the survival rates from cardiac
2 9 arrest; and
2 10 WHEREAS, AEDs have been demonstrated to be safe and
2 11 effective, even when used by laypersons, because the
2 12 devices are designed not to allow a user to administer
2 13 a shock until after the device has analyzed a victim's
2 14 heart rhythm and determined that an electric shock is
2 15 required; and
2 16 WHEREAS, increased awareness of AEDs greatly
2 17 increases their usage when necessary; and
2 18 WHEREAS, currently five AEDs are available in the
2 19 state Capitol as well as other AEDs positioned
2 20 throughout the Capitol complex; and
2 21 WHEREAS, the chain of survival following a cardiac
2 22 arrest specifies that 911 should be called
2 23 immediately, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be
2 24 performed, and an automatic external defibrillator
2 25 device should be attached and used if directed to do
2 26 so by emergency personnel; NOW THEREFORE,
2 27 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate
2 28 recognizes the lifesaving benefits of AEDs,
2 29 acknowledges the importance of raising public
2 30 awareness of AED availability, and encourages persons
3 1 to obtain AED training.
3 2 LSB 6668SS 82
3 3 md/rj/5