SJR35,1,43 Whereas, heart disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race
4in the United States and continues to be the leading cause of death in America; and

SJR35,1,65 Whereas, approximately 295,000 emergency medical services-treated
6out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually nationwide; and

SJR35,1,87 Whereas, roughly 92 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before being
8discharged from a hospital; and

SJR35,1,109 Whereas, sudden cardiac arrest results from an abnormal heart rhythm in most
10adults, often ventricular fibrillation; and

SJR35,1,1211 Whereas, only 32 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive
12bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and

SJR35,2,213 Whereas, prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles the victim's chance of
14survival by helping to maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain, increasing

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1the amount of time in which an electric shock from a defibrillator may be effective;
2and

SJR35,2,63 Whereas, an automated external defibrillator (AED), even when used by a
4bystander, is safe, easy to operate and, if used immediately after the onset of sudden
5cardiac arrest, highly effective in terminating ventricular fibrillation so the heart
6can resume a normal, effective rhythm; and

SJR35,2,87 Whereas, for every minute without bystander CPR, survival from witnessed
8cardiac arrest decreases by seven to ten percent; and

SJR35,2,129 Whereas, the interval between the 911 telephone call and the arrival of
10emergency medical services personnel is usually longer than five minutes, so a
11cardiac arrest victim's survival is likely to depend on a public trained in CPR and
12AED use and access to these lifesaving measures; and

SJR35,2,1513 Whereas, the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the
14National Safety Council are preparing a public awareness and training campaign on
15CPR and AED use, to be held during the first week of June; now, therefore, be it