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Proclamation recognizing the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association for supporting the American Heart Association and naming the week of June 1-7, 2009 as "National CPR and AED Awareness Week."
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WHEREAS, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in nearly 300,000 lives lost annually; and
WHEREAS, only 8 percent of those who suffer SCA survive, though nearly one million Automatic External Defibrillators and Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators have been placed within people who are at risk for SCA; this survival rate is attributed to the early intervention of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and a shock administered by an AED; and
WHEREAS, the national Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association was founded in 2005 to educate the public about SCA, to advocate for better emergency responses to SCA, and to lobby for better access to preventive medical care; and
WHEREAS, the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association was formed in 2008 as the Western Pennsylvania branch of the SCAA; and
WHEREAS, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have joined together to educate the public about the necessity of CPR and AED training to reduce death and disability as an effect of SCA;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Allegheny County Council, on behalf of the citizens of Allegheny County, hereby recognizes the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association for its support of the American Heart Association's efforts to educate people about SCA. Furthermore, we proclaim the week of June 1-7, 2009 as National CPR and AED Awareness Week in Allegheny County and urge all citizens to receive training to support citizens who are at risk for SCA.