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